A former social worker who worked for Southend-on-Sea City Council has been convicted of fraud and money laundering after claiming relocation expenses she was not entitled to. The defendant, Esline Dzumbunu, 52, of The Pinnacle, Victoria Avenue, was found guilty at Basildon Crown Court on 23 June.
Sentencing and orders
The court imposed an 18-month community order and added a two-month curfew, requiring Dzumbunu to remain at home between 8pm and 5am, enforced by an electronic tag. In addition to the community sentence she was ordered to pay £1,800 in compensation to the council.
| Offence | Period of offending | Amount fraudulently claimed |
|---|---|---|
| Fraud by false representation; money laundering | November 2016 – June 2017 | £7,920 |
How the fraud was uncovered
The council's Counter Fraud Team began investigating the matter in 2022 during a review of human resources records and identified a number of claims that appeared irregular. At the time of the alleged offending, a relocation expenses scheme existed to assist in recruiting social workers. The investigation concluded that Dzumbunu had not moved as she claimed when she submitted the expense requests, despite later staying with her sister before securing her own accommodation.
- Four relocation-related expense claims were submitted by Dzumbunu.
- Some items claimed, including household appliances, were later returned and refunded after purchase.
- She did not answer questions in a formal interview under caution but made statements during a separate HR interview about plans to buy a flat that fell through.
Council response and implications
The sentencing judge noted that the defendant had taken advantage of the relocation assistance arrangement and warned that the conviction would have considerable personal consequences, including the likely loss of her career and financial stability.
"We expect the highest standards of integrity from everyone who works for the Council. This case demonstrates that allegations of fraud will be fully investigated and, where appropriate, pursued through the courts,"
The comment was made by Councillor Daniel Cowan, leader of Southend-on-Sea City Council. The council has emphasised that public funds must be protected and used for the benefit of local residents.
This case underlines the role of local counter-fraud measures in scrutinising expenditure and the consequences for staff found to have abused reimbursement schemes. It also raises questions for council human resources and recruitment processes about verifying entitlement to discretionary payments intended to support legitimate relocation for work.
Residents and local stakeholders may expect the council to review internal controls around discretionary payments to prevent similar cases in future, and to ensure value for money for taxpayers funding local services.
