WOODFORD GREEN: Friend defends fraud couple (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

WOODFORD GREEN: Friend defends fraud couple

12:36pm Wednesday 10th March 2010 in

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THE couple accused of taking part in a multi-million pound benefits scam are 'good people' according to a close friend.

Lavinia Olmazu, 30, and her boyfriend Alin Enachi, 29, of Newlands Road, Woodford Green, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday (March 5) accused - along with six other Romanians - of conspiring to make false applications for welfare payments using national insurance numbers they had fraudulently obtained.

Ms Olmazu is a respected campaigner for the rights of Roma gipsies, and has worked as an outreach worker for members of the community in north east London.

The couple's friend, Marius Gliga, 29, told the Guardian that they had simply been trying to help the gipsies.

He said: "I just don't believe they were trying to take any money for themselves.

"They were simply giving help and support to gipsies and that’s all. That’s what they believed in.

"They are not thieves. They never had any money.

"They are good people."

All of the defendents who appeared at court on Friday, March 5, are accused of conspiracy to defraud and fraud by misrepresentation.

They were remanded in custody and will appear at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, May 6.