Roma rights campaigner jailed for benefits scam

A Romanian born Roma rights activist was jailed on Monday for her part in a scam that cost British taxpayers almost 3 million pounds.

According to Reuters UK, Lavinia Olmazu, 31, “entrapped” members of the Roma community in London into applying for benefits while posing as an outreach worker and adviser.

The Metropolitan Police said that Olmazu tried to siphon off 10 million pounds along with other members of a Romanian criminal gang.

“This is a clear case of Roma families who wished to improve their lives but were prevented from doing so by being exploited by their own people,” said Detective Constable Melanie Groves.

Olmazu and seven of her associates including her partner were sentenced to a total of more than nine years in jail.