Bogus life on dead teen girl’s passport

Ambrath Khatoon

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£7,600 benefits scam after changing name

A WOMAN used a dead teenager’s identity to get into the country and settle in Oldham — with the help of the tragic girl’s brother.

Ambrath Khatoon lived a bogus life for several years and then changed her name and swindled thousands in benefits, a court heard.

She was only 16 when she came to England — just weeks after getting married in her home country of Pakistan.

She entered Britain with a passport for Raheela Kauser, a British Pakistani girl who died aged 14 while visiting the Islamabad region.

Raheela died in 1999, but the British High Commission reissued a passport in her name which the defendant used. It is not known how or why the passport was replaced.

The court heard how Raheela’s brother, Mohammed Shabir, lied to the authorities and signed documents saying Khatoon was his sister. That allowed her husband to live in Britain.

Khatoon travelled to Britain with Raheela’s grandfather in 2003 and set up a new life in Oldham, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

In June, 2006, the defendant was granted a replacement passport in the name Ambrath Khatoon.

She told immigration officials she had changed her name by Deed Poll from Raheela Kauser.

Once living as Ambrath Khatoon, she claimed more than £7,600 in council tax and housing benefits. But the fact she had lied about her identity meant her claims were illegal.

Khatoon (25), of Coverham Avenue, pleaded guilty to assisting illegal entry to the UK, two charges of possession of false identity documents, and benefits fraud offences. She was sentenced to 12-months in jail, suspended for two years.

She must also carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

Mohammed Shabir (26) a security worker of Kennedy Street, Oldham, pleaded guilty to assisting unlawful immigration and making a false statutory declaration.

Shabir also received a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.

He must carry out 250 hours unpaid work and pay £400 court costs.

The judge was told how Khatoon was 16 at the time of the scam, and was only told what was going to happen minutes before her flight to Britain.

Shabir later told police: “My grandfather was a very strict man, and I didn’t feel I could question his authority.”