DWP worker said he had malaria when he was holidaying around the world on taxpayer’s cash

An international policy advisor at the Department for Work and Pensions fleeced his employers out of more than £41,000 while travelling the world, a court heard.

Maurice Okello, 39, jetted off to Tampa, Mexico City, Boston, Gothenburg, Kos, Marrakesh and Brussels during the scam.

Okello also handed a forged sick note to his employers, claiming he had malaria to pocket more than £4,000, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Okello appeared at Southwark Crown Court wearing a dark blue suit and a white shirt.

Nathan Palmer, prosecuting, said: ‘He was an employee at the Department for Work and Pensions, and he forged a sick note so that he could claim his salary while claiming he was off work for ill health.’

As part of his role he was able to travel using DWP funds.

‘We was able to make bookings for authorised travel’, said Mr Palmer.

Okello messaged his line manage Dominic Kelly telling him that he had been unwell and had had to spend time in hospital.

‘He said that he had returned from Kenya to attend his father’s funeral and had contracted malaria.’

Mr Kelly told him that he would need a sick note, but Okello provided a fake note from the Park Royal medical practice claiming that he had the tropical disease.

Later Mr Kelly was copied into an email which showed that Okello had booked a hotel in London.

‘Mr Kelly was concerned about this as Mr Okello was a London based member of staff’, said Mr Palmer.

Mr Kelly later discovered unauthorised trips that Okello had booked to Boston, Marrakesh and Mexico City, and he was suspended from duty.

Police were contacted and it was confirmed that the sick notes were fake.

‘The certificates appeared to be counterfeit,’ said Mr Palmer.

‘Mr Okello was in fact in Sweden when he claimed to be unwell.

‘The total value of the fraud was £45,615.

‘We will be seeking a compensation order of £45,615. You will of course have to make inquiries into Mr Okello’s circumstances.’

Chloe Carvell, defending Okello, said: ‘He accepts his responsibility for the offences. He has demonstrated remorse and that is set out in the probation report.’

She said that his partner had been diagnosed with cancer, and depended on Okello to look after her.

‘She has no other relatives in the UK to support her.’

She added that Okello had been diagnosed with bipolar when he was a teenager, and had been on medication in the past.

‘At the time he tells me it was exacerbated by his workload and the pressure he was under, and that he was caring for his grandfather who was unwell at the time.’

Okello claims his parents will be able to pay between ten and fifteen thousand pounds towards the compensation order by taking out a loan, and that he could pay £400 despite being on Universal Credit.

Judge Martin Griffith adjourned sentence until 19 September for confirmation he can pay the money back and said:

‘This is a very serious matter. There is a starting point of three years with a range of up to four years.’

Okello, of Harrow Weald, northwest London, admitted two counts of fraud while employed as policy advisor for the DWP, between 1 December 2022 and 3 September 2023.

He was released on unconditional bail ahead of sentence.