Cardiff-based fraudsters are now facing months of imprisonment, hours of community service, and significant fines after staging a crash and making fake claims.
US insurer
AIG – cover provider of the car rental company whose unit was involved in the staged collision – referred a “suspicious” crash to the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED). The case also reached the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB).
It turns out the car, as CCTV footage would show, drove past a bus carrying the other men twice before hitting it in the back. The impact was also assessed as too small to cause injuries, yet those on the bus made injury claims.
In fact, following the May 21, 2014 incident on Cowbridge Road West in Cardiff, the bus driver called for emergency responders but no-one presented themselves as injured. South Wales Police also noted minimal damage to the bus, while a risk solutions expert said the passengers would only have experienced minor vibrations from the impact.
In addition, it was found that two of the ‘injured’ passengers were friends – at least on social media – with Merrick Williams, the man driving the car.
The eight received the following sentences:
- Williams – 12 months in jail for conspiracy to commit fraud, with a concurrent six-month sentence for dangerous driving; disqualification from driving for two years; and a £200 fine.
- Kassim Mukbill – 12-month imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, for conspiracy to commit fraud; 150 hours community service; and a £200 fine.
- Nigel Thomas Iti – 12-month imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, for conspiracy to commit fraud; 150 hours community service; and a £200 fine.
- Hamada Shuyeb – 12-month imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, for conspiracy to commit fraud; 150 hours community service; and a £200 fine.
- Kieran Murphy – 12-month imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, for fraud by false representation; 150 hours community service; and a £200 fine.
- Fahmi Haddad – nine-month imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, for fraud by false representation; 150 hours community service; and a £200 fine.
- Aaron Ryan – nine-month imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, for fraud by false representation; 150 hours community service; and a £200 fine.
- Matthew Saunders – nine-month imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, for fraud by false representation; 150 hours community service; and a £200 fine.
“This is the largest number of claimants tried together for an Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department case and shows the extent that people will go to for greed and money,” commented City of London Police’s Detective Constable Aman Taylor, who led the investigation for IFED. “By planning the bus crash, the men deliberately put the safety of innocent people, including children, at risk in a bid to make money and take advantage of the personal injury claims system.”
David Halstead, fraud manager at AIG, said: “We are extremely grateful to IFED and IFB for their hard work in bringing the perpetrators to justice in this particularly devious case, and we will continue working to support all parties involved in stamping out insurance fraud.”
IFB’s head of investigations Jason Potter, on the other hand, noted that those who commit crimes of this nature now stand a very good chance of getting caught and facing serious consequences. Meanwhile a warrant of arrest has been issued for a ninth man who did not attend court.
Related stories:
Three jailed over insurance fraud scam
Sentence revealed for “crash for cash” gang
