THE “widow” of a millionaire buy-to-let landlord has won a ￡385,000 share of his fortune in a legal fight with his children.
But she could be stripped of hundreds of thousands and face jail after her evidence in court revealed she is a benefits cheat.
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“Wife” Cindy Jassal outside court Credit: Champion News 2
Siblings Sofia Shah, Shabana Shah, Sajad Shah, and Sabrina Shah Credit: Champion News
Alan Shah, 64, died of a brain haemorrhage last year, leaving everything to only son Sajad Ali Shah and cutting out “wife” Cindy Jassal completely.
Jassal, 57, wed Mr Shah in a 2003 Islamic ceremony but they were not legally husband and wife.
She sued for a payout from his ￡1million estate after his death, insisting they had lived together as spouses and she was entitled to be supported.
The son, backed by his three sisters, claimed their dad and Jassal were not truly in a marriage-like relationship after 2012. But a judge at the High Court ruled in her favour, handing her the huge payout.
However, he said she committed fraud by telling her local council she and Mr Shah were not co-habiting in order to claim housing benefit.
Jassal, of Slough, Berks, faces prosecution. And judge Matthew Marsh ordered ￡200,000 of her payout be held back to give authorities the chance to claim back any wrongly paid benefits.
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