ICBC has zero tolerance for fraud
December 12,2006 – ICBC has filed a civil action against 20 Lower Mainland residents and two companies, for their alleged involvement in the theft of and/or use of stolen vehicles.
The defendants named in the action are Jaspal Singh Atwal, Vikram Singh Atwal, Harjeet Singh Bains, Jasraj Singh Bains, Raminder Bhandher, Mohinder Singh Bhullar, Boulevard Homes Ltd., Gordon Brink, Davinder Singh Chahil, Harjinder Singh Cheema, Joan Dhillon-Gill, Jawinder Singh Ghuman, Nirmal Singh Gill, Patty Amarjeet Kaur Gill, Rajwinder Kaur Gill, Hallmark Construction Ltd., Harkinder Hans, Harchet Singh Kaler, Manraj Singh Khela, Mohamed Nachar, Sukhjit Kaur Rana, and Abinder Singh Sandhu.
The case includes a total of seven stolen vehicle claims from 2002 until 2003. ICBC is seeking to recover approximately $300,000, the cost paid out for the allegedly stolen vehicles plus the cost to investigate the claims, legal fees and punitive damages.
“ICBC has zero tolerance for fraud,” said Mark Withenshaw, ICBC vice president of loss management. “The rising cost of claims is a concern for ICBC, but by pursuing cases of fraud against the corporation we can help to keep rates low and stable,” said Withenshaw.
According to the action filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the vehicles were reported stolen in B.C., then forged Alberta registration documents were created using a different Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). It is alleged that the vehicles were then registered in B.C. using the forged registration documents to create a new identity for the vehicles. The scheme gave the appearance that these vehicles were imported from Alberta. The vehicles were then transferred one or more times to the various defendants named in this civil action.
As part of a joint police and ICBC investigation the vehicles, or parts of the vehicles, were seized by the police and identified as being stolen.
“Attempting to defraud ICBC has serious consequences. Not only will ICBC pursue money paid out for false claims and associated costs, ICBC may deny those convicted of fraud Optional insurance. B.C. motorists saved more than $73 million in 2005 thanks to ICBC anti-fraud programs,” said Withenshaw.
About ICBC
The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) is a provincial Crown corporation established in 1973 to provide universal auto insurance to BC motorists. In addition, the Corporation is responsible for driver licensing, vehicle registration and licensing.
