Civil servant faces jail after pocketing £40,000 in bogus expenses and faking sick note so he could travel the world

• Maurice Okello, 39, pleaded guilty to two counts at Southwark Crown Court 

By INDERDEEP BAINS, DEPUTY CHIEF REPORTER

Published: 14:42 BST, 22 April 2025 | Updated: 16:46 BST, 22 April 2025

An international policy advisor at the Department for Work and Pensions has been warned he could face jail after faking a sicknote and pocketing £40,000 in bogus expenses so he could travel the world.

Maurice Okello pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to forging a medical note so he could go on holiday and fraudulently claiming £41,476.91 under the guise of work travel.

The 39-year-old from Harrow visited destinations including Tampa in Florida, Boston, Mexico City, Marrakech, Kos in Greece and Prague between December 2022 and September 2023.

He also visited Brussels several times as well as Gothenburg in Sweden, where he was born.

Okello, who first worked at the DWP as a Contract Performance Manager in 2021, began making the bogus claims shortly after being promoted to international policy advisor in August 2022.

The court heard he also forged a note stating he was unfit to work so he could take sick leave and go travelling in August 2023, while still receiving his £4,138 monthly salary.

Warning him that he could face a custodial sentence, Judge Christopher Hehir said: ‘Obviously these are serious matters, it’s a substantial breach of trust.’

Maurice Okello pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to forging a medical note so he could go on holiday and fraudulently claiming £41,476.91 under the guise of work travel

The policy advisor began making the bogus claims shortly after being promoted to international policy advisor in August 2022

The 39-year-old began making the bogus claims shortly after being promoted to international policy advisor at the DWP in August 2022

Speaking directly to Okello, who appeared in the dock in a dark suit and blue tie, the judge added: ‘You have pleaded guilty to two serious offences. 

‘I am not going to sentence you today because the court needs a pre-sentence report to find out more about you and your circumstances, and the circumstances of these offences.

‘You must understand the fact I’ve ordered a pre-sentence report and the fact I’m readmitting you to unconditional bail is no sort of promise, indication or guarantee of the sentence.

‘All sentence options, including immediate custody will be open to the sentencing judge because these are serious matters involving a substantial breach of trust.’

Okello, of Harrow, northwest London, was released on unconditional bail and is due to be sentenced at the same court on June 13.

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Civil servant faces jail after pocketing £40,000 in bogus expenses and faking sick note so he could travel the world

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