BPM MEDIA / FACEBOOK Bashir Souliman has been jailed for 28 weeks for fraudulently claiming benefits

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Bashir Souliman, originally from the city of Homs, claimed he had been kidnapped in a bid to hoodwink the state, after leaving Birmingham for Syria for nine months. He lived in Birmingham in January 2014 where he began claiming benefits. He travelled to Syria at the end of that month and remained there until October, despite claiming he only planned to go for one month. During the eight month trip he continued to claim benefits totalling £10,801, made up of Employment Support Allowance, housing benefits and child tax credits.

When the father-of-two finally returned, he said he had been kidnapped and only released after the payment of a ransom.

BPM MEDIA / FACEBOOK Souliman claimed he stayed abroad for so long while still claiming benefits because he was kidnapped

However, following a tip-off, he was investigated by anti-fraud officers, and has since been found guilty at court and jailed for 28 weeks. Speaking at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Sunday, chair of the bench Christine Speake said: “This was a deliberate defrauding of the public purse for the sum of over £10,000. “We take fraud of this kind very seriously. We see no alternative but to jail you.”

GETTY Souliman returned to the Syrian city of Homs for eight months while claiming UK benefits

His defence solicitor Geraldine Toal said he had returned home to see his children and wife. She said: “He returned to Syria to see his wife and children. His children had come over to the UK but couldn't live without their mother so returned to the country. “There are many issues in Syria and opposing factions and threats have been made to his family.

GOOGLE MAPS Souliman was sentenced to 28 weeks in jail at Birmingham Magistrates Court