Woman fails to appear to face benefit claim charges

A woman is being hunted by police after failing to appear in court over allegations she swindled more than £8,500 in benefits by claiming her husband was living in India.

Gurpal Kaur is accused of claiming the cash by stating to Department for Work and Pensions bosses that she lived alone in Fife.

Prosecutors say she was in fact living with husband Salnam Singh.

It is alleged that between October 2008 and November 2008 she claimed £509.92 in Jobseeker’s Allowance that she should not have received.

A second charge alleges that she obtained £3,400 in Employment and Support Allowance between November 2008 and October 2009.

And a third charge accuses Kaur of obtaining £4,763.72 in Jobseeker’s Allowance between January 2010 and December 2010.

Kaur (50), of Toll Court, Lundin Links, denies three charges under the Social Security Administration Act.

However, she failed to turn up at Cupar Sheriff Court on Thursday for a pre-trial hearing.

Sheriff Charles Macnair granted a warrant for her arrest.