Woman accused of lying to get €11,000 after Grenfell Tower fire appears in court
A woman who allegedly falsely claimed she was a Grenfell Tower fire survivor whose husband had died in the disaster has appeared in court.
Joyce Msokeri, 46, is accused of lying to Kensington and Chelsea Council to obtain more than €11,000 in funds allocated for victims of the blaze, and get accommodation at the Hilton hotel.
She is said to have told hospitals she was the wife of a patient, misled charities to get food and clothing, and made false representations to the UK revenue and customs and a GP surgery in the west London borough.
Msokeri is also alleged to have falsely claimed to have a child in intensive care following the Grenfell fire earlier this year.
She was arrested on July 26 and a hearing on September 5 at Westminster Magistrates’ Court was told Msokeri made substantial claims on the basis she was a survivor of the blaze.
Msokeri appeared at Southwark Crown Court today charged with five counts of fraud and one count of possessing a false identity document.
She sat in the dock in a wheelchair throughout the short hearing, wearing a dark coat, with her hair covered with a black scarf.
She did not speak to confirm her name and date of birth, leaving her barrister, Susan Meek, to confirm Msokeri’s identity.
The defendant was due to enter pleas, but the case was adjourned until January 5 next year for legal reasons.
A provisional trial date at the same court was previously set for February 26.
