Grenfell Tower: Man in court after 'claiming family died to get nearly £10,000 worth of donations'

Accused: Anh Nhu Nguyen
Matt Watts30 June 2017
WEST END FINAL

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A 52-year-old man has appeared in court accused of fraud after allegedly claiming to have lost his wife and son in the Grenfell Tower disaster.

Anh Nhu Nguyen, is accused of lying to Kensington and Chelsea Council and charities, claiming he lived in the block where at least 80 people died in a huge fire on June 14.

He allegedly told officials in the days after the blaze his relatives were feared dead and all his possessions were lost to claim thousands of pounds in financial support and accommodation.

He appeared in custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday where he gave no indication of plea.

Mr Nguyen, who gave his home address as a street in Beckenham, was remanded in custody ahead of his next appearance at Southwark Crown Court on July 28.

The court heard he allegedly attended the main relief centre set up after the blaze, in Westway Sports Centre, saying “he had lost his wife and son and all his worldly possessions.”

It heard Mr Nguyen was said to have been given £100 on June 18 and a further £260 when he returned on June 21.

He is accused of fraudulently accepting emergency accommodation in the Holiday Inn, running up a bill of around £2,000.

He is also accused of claiming food, clothing, footwear and electronic equipment. The court was told the value of the alleged fraud was approaching £10,000.

District Judge Tan Ikram, denying Mr Nguyen bail, said: “This is a particularly serious fraud and could not be more serious in the current environment.”

Wearing dark trousers and a grey top he gave no indication of plea to two counts of fraud.

Mr Nguyen is accused between June 17 and June 29 of dishonestly trying to make a gain for himself, namely money and accommodation, by making representations to Kensington and Chelsea Council, which he knew were untrue, that he was a resident of the Grenfell tower during the fatal fire.

He was accused over the same period of dishonestly making a gain for himself by claiming, food, clothing, footwear and electronic equipment, and making representations to charities, which he knew were untrue, that he was a resident of the tower.

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