Two men involved in motor insurance fraud have been charged in court on 8 July 2022. They are alleged to have engaged in a conspiracy to submit fraudulent insurance claims for property damages and personal injury related to a road traffic accident that happened on 17 August 2020.
On 9 April 2021, the Police received information of fraudulent insurance claims involving the duo, who are 58-year-old Rahim Bin Ibrahim (“Rahim”) and 38-year-old Mohammad Sharizan Bin Sanwan (“Sharizan”). Investigations revealed that Sharizan allegedly met with a road traffic accident on 17 August 2020 along Bartley Road East while driving a motor vehicle which Rahim had leased from a vehicle rental company. Being the only driver authorised to drive the rented motor vehicle, Rahim then lodged a Police report stating that he was the driver in the accident and his wife was his passenger, and that the driver of the other vehicle involved in the accident was responsible for the collision which caused injury to both Rahim and his wife. Rahim had also allegedly directed Sharizan to lodge a Police report purporting to be an independent witness to the accident, in order to support Rahim’s claims and to induce the vehicle rental company into omitting to claim repair costs from Rahim. Rahim subsequently filed injury claims against the other accident vehicle’s insurer for him and his wife.
The charges against the duo are as follows:
- Mohammad Sharizan Bin Sanwan (3 charges)
- One count of engaging in a conspiracy to cheat under Section 417, read with Section 116, of the Penal Code;
- One count of abetment to give false information under Section 182, read with Section 109, of the Penal Code; and
- One count of using a motor vehicle without being insured against third - party risks under Section 3(1) of the Motor Vehicles (Third-Party Risks and Compensation) Act.
- One count of engaging in a conspiracy to cheat under Section 417, read with Section 116, of the Penal Code;
- Rahim Bin Ibrahim faces (5 charges)
- Two counts of engaging in a conspiracy to cheat under Section 420, read with Section 116, of the Penal Code;
- One count of engaging in a conspiracy to cheat under Section 417, read with Section 116, of the Penal Code;
- One count of giving false information under Section 182 of the Penal Code; and
- One count of abetment to give false information under Section 182, read with Section 109, of the Penal Code
The following are the punishments for the respective offences:
- Cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code– punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years and shall also be liable to fine.
- Cheating under Section 417 of the Penal Code– punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
- Giving false information to public servant under Section 182 of the Penal Code – punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
- Using a motor vehicle without being insured against third-party risks under Section 3(1) of the Motor Vehicles (Third-Party Risks and Compensation) Act – punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, a fine which may extend to $1,000, or both. A person convicted of an offence under this section shall be disqualified for holding or obtaining a driving licence under the Road Traffic Act (Cap. 276) for a period of 12 months from the date of the conviction.
Motorists should be aware of the risks of driving without insurance coverage. The Police takes a serious view of motor insurance fraud and will deal with perpetrators in accordance with the law.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
09 July 2022 @ 1:10 AM