Married couple, who falsely claimed benefits, must pay back £109,000
ABirminghamcouple may face jail if they do not pay back £109,000 to the taxpayer.
Nasir Ali and his wife Sheena Jan, both aged 38, were convicted of committing benefit fraud last year.
Birmingham Crown Court has ordered the taxi driver to pay £70,500, while his partner is expected to return £38,500.
The pair, from Stow Grove, Bromford, has until September to return the money, or else be jailed for 20 months and 14 months.
Mr Ali was convicted of benefit fraud last year and was given an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for two years and ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid community service.
His wife was also suspended for two years, given an 18-week sentence and made to complete 50 hours of unpaid work.
The couple stole the money by lying about their income, making false child benefit claims and stating that they lived apart.
Mrs Jan claimed that she was living at another premise that she owned, but it turned out that it was rented out and none of the rental income was taken by her.
Mr Ali made claims that he was unemployed for four years, but it became apparent that he had been selling cars and working as a self-employed.
