BRITAIN’S biggest benefit fraud gang who stole £54million of taxpayers’ money were given £2million in legal aid.
The five — originally from Bulgaria — made thousands of false claims and spent the cash on luxury lifestyles.
They all pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering- related offences at Wood Green crown court in April and were jailed for between three and eight years each in May.
The vast sum the five defendants cost in solicitors’ and barristers’ bills for their trial has now been revealed.
But the Ministry of Justice warned the final total could be higher as the billing process “takes several months”.
Prosecutors say work is ongoing to recover the benefits the gang stole, with some thought to have bought property in Bulgaria.
The North London gang’s assets were frozen after their arrests, with cops taking cars, clothes, jewellery and watches.
Wads of cash were found stashed in suitcases and taped under sofas.
One of the five, Tsvetka Todorova, 53, was released from jail in June having served 18 months of her three-year sentence on remand.
She boasted her UK jail was “like a vacation home”.
All five will be deported on release.
John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “This particular case will do huge damage to the credibility of the system of legal aid.”
The MoJ insisted legal aid is for “the provision of representation to ensure a fair trial”.
