MPI charges six with fraud

Following a year-long investigation, Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) has charged six people with insurance fraud. The six Winnipeg men face 15 charges stemming from six incidents that allegedly occurred between November 1998 and February 2003. The charges relate to incidents including staged car accidents to vehicle arson and auto theft, according to allegations by MPI’s Special Investigation Unit (SIU).”The investigation is ongoing, but other charges are possible,” adds Randy Bell, manager of MPI’s SUI.All of the men face charges of fraud over $5,000, which, if convicted, could see them face a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail based on the federal criminal code. All six also face either a conspiracy to commit fraud or a conspiracy to commit an indictable offense charge.”Committing insurance fraud is a very serious offence which affects honest rate payers,” says Bell. “This type of crime is certainly not victimless.”