November 15, Surrey resident pleads guilty.
A Surrey resident has pleaded guilty to charges of providing false information to ICBC after claiming to be a passenger in a vehicle involved in a single vehicle collision.
Cameron Louis Simpson appeared in court on October 1, 2004 and pleaded guilty to charges under the Insurance (Motor Vehicle) Act. Simpson was fined $2,500 and the Court imposed a $375 victim surcharge.
“ICBC has a zero tolerance policy for claims based on false information,� said Mark Withenshaw, ICBC vice president of loss management. �This is not a victimless crime. The cost of fraudulent claims is paid by honest customers in the form of higher premiums.”
On April 20, 2001 a 17 year old driver and her 18 year old passenger were involved in single vehicle collision. The driver claimed that Simpson was also a passenger, as her learner�s driver licence required her to have a supervisor of at least 19 years of age in the vehicle.
Without the driver�s knowledge, Simpson filed a bodily injury claim with ICBC, claiming a number of injuries including blurred vision, loss of consciousness, fractured ribs, and soft tissue injuries to his shoulder, arms and hands.
Through further investigation, including statements from the driver and the other passenenger, it was confirmed that Simpson wasn�t in the vehicle at the time of the collision.
The driver was required by ICBC to pay back the damages to the vehicle.
“People need to realize that when someone profits from false information, they are stealing money from their neighbours and friends,� said Withenshaw. The insurance industry estimates that fraud increases premiums by about 15 per cent.
Anyone with information on a suspicious, exaggerated or fraudulent claim is encouraged to phone the ICBC Tips Line at 604-661-6844.
November 15, 2004 – Local residents guilty of providing false information.
Two Fraser Valley residents have pleaded guilty to charges of providing false information to ICBC.
Gurpreet Singh of Abbotsford and Suhasni Maharaj of Chilliwack appeared in court on October 14, 2004 and pleaded guilty to charges under the Insurance (Motor Vehicle) Act. Singh was fined $2,000, and ordered to pay ICBC restitution of $813.30, while Maharaj was fined $750.00.
“ICBC has a zero tolerance policy for claims based on false information,� said Mark Withenshaw, ICBC vice president of loss management. �We feel that it is important that customers are made aware of the consequences of providing false information to their insurance company.”
As the result of a collision that occurred October 16, 2003, Singh sustained a fractured bone in his shoulder and requested compensation because he was unable to work at his job as a cleaner. Through further investigation it was found that the wage loss documents submitted to ICBC had been falsified. Singh had never worked for Maharaj, yet he had been put on the books of Maharaj�s cleaning company for approximately a year.
�This is not a victimless crime,� said Withenshaw. �The cost is paid by honest customers in the form of higher premiums.� The insurance industry estimates that fraud increases premiums by about 15 per cent.
Anyone with information on a suspicious, exaggerated or fraudulent claim is encouraged to phone the ICBC Tips Line at 604-661-6844.
