A former chairwoman of Lambeth Council’s housing company has pleaded not guilty to fraudulently obtaining more than £250k from the council.

Asuman Ozkan, 41, resigned from Lambeth Living in 2008 after being arrested – along with 45-year-old Joel Arizie, believed to be her husband – on suspicion of obtaining property by deception.

The pair appeared at Inner London Crown Court today, both charged with obtaining Lambeth Council property worth £140,000.

Ms Ozkan was also charged with dishonestly obtaining council tax and housing benefit to the value of £91,174.79, as well as fraud.

The pair were arrested in 2008 after police carried out a dawn raid on her home on the Angell Town estate, Brixton.

After her arrest, Lambeth Council chief executive Derrick Anderson wrote to Ms Ozkan, asking her to stand down, which she did.

Ms Ozkan pleaded not guilty to obtaining property by deception and to fraud.

Mr Arizie pleaded not guilty to permitting the furnishing of false information to obtain a benefit and guilty to obtaining property by deception.

The offences are alleged to have been committed between 1997 and 2008.

They are now due to stand trial at Inner London Crown Court on May 16.