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  • Suspended sentence for benefit fraud

    Topics:
    • Benefit fraud

    Date published: 25 June 2026

    A man has been convicted at Craigavon Crown Court for fraudulently claiming over £12,000 in benefits.

    Martin Tsang (54) of Carrick Meadows, Lurgan, claimed Universal Credit and Pension Credit totalling £12,144.25 while failing to declare capital. In the Pension Credit case, Mr Tsang acted as an appointee and failed to provide accurate information.

    Mr Tsang was sentenced to a total of six months' imprisonment suspended for two years. The fraud was uncovered following an investigation by the Department for Communities.

    Mr Tsang is also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Department.

    Suspected benefit fraud can be reported to the Department for Communities anonymously. Find out more at: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/benefit-fraud.

    Notes to editors:

    1. For media enquiries please contact the DfC Press Office via press.office@communities-ni.gov.uk.
    2. Follow the Department on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
    3. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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