A fraudster from Maida Vale who pocketed thousands in a ‘crash for cash’ insurance scam has been jailed.
Mohamed Labre Chiadmi, 37, of Edbrooke Road, received a £3,000 payout after he claimed his Volkswagen Golf had been written off after he smashed into a Mercedes Sprinter van driven by Moussa Elwardi.
Police were called in by Chiadmi’s bank after the payment from his insurance company was made into his account.
Further inquires revealed the crash, which he said had taken place in Chiswick in 2013, could not have happen as both men claimed.
Photographs showed Chiadmi’s Golf had been involved in a serious collision, but not as he had described to his insurers and a photo of Elwardi’s van showed that it not suffered any damage.
In addition Elwardi was not in the country at the time of the ‘crash’.
Investigating officers also discovered Chiadmi had taken out two other insurance policies where he had not correctly declared his personal information, including details of previous convictions, previous collisions and claims he had been involved in.
Elwardi, from Ladbroke Grove, received £3,300 for his van from their insurers and had also made a further personal injury claim for £10,000, although it was never paid.
He was arrested but officers were unable to apprehend Chiadmi as he was in Morocco.
He was arrested on his return and on Monday he was jailed for 10 months after previously admitting fraud by false representation and two counts of making false declarations to obtain motor insurance.
Elwardi admitted fraud by false representation and was sentenced to a 12 month community order, to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work and fined £1,550.
Detective Inspector Dave Hindmarsh, from the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: “We continue to work with the insurance industry to crack down on those involved in this type of motor insurance fraud.
“Whilst he never admitted to how the damage to his car was actually sustained, Chiadmi and his accomplice clearly looked to benefit from making false insurance claims. Our message is clear; if you commit any kind of insurance fraud, then we will investigate and look to bring you before the courts.”
Both men will be the subject of a confiscation order in February next year.
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