A postman who falsely claimed £23,500 in compensation for an accident at work which he said left him disabled was today jailed after investigators spotted performing at a Malaysian music festival.
Belangeni Musumbu was exposed after pictures of his performance at Rainforest World Music Festival in July last year emerged on a blog.
The 46-year-old postal worker told Royal Mail he had "lost his life" after a car hit the back of the Royal Mail van he was unloading on Basing Way, Finchley in December 2010.
Doctors signed him off work, saying he could not walk unaided, dress himself or drive.
He was allowed to officially retire in April 2012 and received £23,500 in compensation for his injuries.
But investigators later filmed him loading boxes into a car during August and October 2012 after previously uncovering pictures of the festival performance.
Medics at insurance provider esure also reported suspicions that Musumbu was exaggerating his injuries after he turned up to a doctor's appointment in November 2012 with a walking stick and said he could not undress without help.
Detectives found Musumbu had reported to a different insurer that he was driving his car in October 2011 when he was hit by another driver. This was after he told esure the original accident left him unable to drive, City Police said.
Musumbu, of Colney Hatch Lane, was jailed for 18 months at the Old Bailey after admitting two counts of fraud. He was also ordered to pay back £24,527.45 in compensation - £1,000 to esure and the remainder to Royal Mail.
Detective Constable Gary Kearley, who led the investigation for City Police, said: “Musumbu mislead health professionals and did not think anyone would check if he was telling the truth about his injuries. This was an extremely naïve assumption that has turned him into a fraudster serving time in prison.
“His sentence should serve as a warning to anyone who still thinks that making an exaggerated insurance claim is acceptable. This is a criminal offence and the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department is working with insurers and business to bring offenders to book.”
