Crash for Cash Gang of 19 Offenders Receive Jail Sentences

The Cotswold Group’s Complex Fraud team were involved in a number of investigations that assisted Aviva and other major insurers in bringing a criminal crash for cash gang to justice.

'Crash for cash' insurance fraud
Dec 20, 2016 14:03 GMT

An organised criminal gang of 19 men and women, who carried out 'Crash for Cash' insurance fraud, have all been convicted at court.

The final sentencing took place on Thursday, 15 December.

The remaining four members of a 19-strong, organised criminal gang, who carried out 'Crash-for-Cash' insurance scams in north London, were sentenced on Thursday, 15 December, following a five-week trial at Harrow Crown Court.

The other gang members were sentenced on Friday, 20 May and Thursday, 30 June respectively in relation to conspiracy to defraud and fraud by false presentation.

The gang came to the attention of the Metropolitan Police Service on 27 December 2012, following a collision. The investigation found that the driver, Mohammed Zubair Jamil had suddenly braked his vehicle before driving away from the scene. His accomplice, who was driving behind him, used this as an excuse to brake and stop his vehicle, which resulted in three innocent drivers to all be involved in a collision with each other.

The investigation by the Met, supported by the insurance industry and the Insurance Fraud Bureau, found that Jamil, the company director for SAS Accident Management, and SAS Car Hire, based in Watford, was actually responsible for the organisation and execution of other induced collisions. Many of these were carried out by his associates who were either drivers or passengers in decoy cars.

An induced 'crash for cash'-style collision often uses a decoy car which brakes heavily in traffic to cause another vehicle carrying several passengers to slam into its rear, typically in front of a pre-selected innocent motorist's vehicle. The car owner and the passengers then make false personal injury claims as a result of the collision.

Jamil's records were seized, resulting in a number of collisions and insurance claims to the value of £1.1million being investigated.

Detective Inspector David Hindmarsh, of the Met's Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: "This was an audacious, criminal act, carried out by unscrupulous people whose sole aim was to line their pockets at the expense of their victims. They did not care whatsoever that their reckless acts endangered the lives of innocent people."

Following three lengthy and complex trials the following defendants were found guilty and sentenced as follows:

Trial Three: Sentencing at Harrow Crown Court:

Ali Malik, 22, (12.10.94) of no fixed address was sentenced in his absence to four-and-a-half years imprisonment on each of the six indictments to run concurrently.

A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Nazema Nawaz, 28, (26.08.88) of Broad Mead, Luton, was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment for each of the six indictments to run concurrently.
Mazhar Iqbal, 44, (07.08.72) of Hollings Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment for two indictments to run concurrently
Mohammed Nisar, 49, (20.04.67) of Trent Road, Luton was jailed for 16 months for one indictment.
Gulraiz Fazal, 36, (21.07.80) of Highfield Road, Luton was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment for one indictment.

Trial Two: Sentencing on Thursday, 30 June at Harrow Crown Court:

Rafal Parczewski, 41, (31.08.75) of Owen Way, NW10 was sentenced to 22 months imprisonment for two indictments.
Mikolaj Parczewski, 25, (12.02.91) of Owen Way, NW10 was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment for one indictment.
Daniel Z Zakrzewski, 31, (15.11.85) of Owen Way, NW10 was sentenced to 22 months imprisonment for two indictments.
Maria Aftewicz, 27, (01.11.89) of Fortune Gate, Clive Court, NW10 was jailed for 16 months, suspended for two years, and 150 hours community service for one indictment.
Mirosla Lewandowski, 60, (04.06.56) of Harrold Road, Rowley Regis, West Midlands was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment for one indictment.
Jadwiga Pawloska, 63, (25.12.52) of Harrold Road, Rowley Regis, West Midlands was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment for one indictment.
Anna Olenczuk, 47, (08.01.69) of Quainton Street, NW10 was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and 150 hours community service for one indictment.
Barbara Aftewicz, 48, (28.08.68) of Villiers Road, NW2 was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment for one indictment.

Trial One: Sentencing on Friday, 20 May at Harrow Crown Court:

Mohammed Zubair Jamil, 35, (22.09.81), of Gimaldi Avenue, Luton, was sentenced to five years imprisonment on each of the eight indictments to run concurrently.
Raheel Akhtar, 37, (05.03.79) of Park Street, St Albans, was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment for one indictment.
Mohammad Ashan, 32, (25.12.83) of Highbury Road, Luton, was jailed for 16 months for one indictment.
Shuel Miah, 25, (03.01.91) of Alder Close, Park Street, St Albans, was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years with 200 hours UPW and £2,320 compensation for one indictment.
Suat Mazi, 40, (28.01.76) of High Street, Enfield, was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment for one indictment.
Emrah Yildiz, 28, (01.09.88) of Fellowes Court, Weymouth Terrace, E2 was jailed for 16 months for one indictment.

Breakdown of charges:

A collision occurred on 24 September 2009, at 21:00hrs on the roundabout to Junction 5 of the M1, Ali Malik & Mohammed Zubair Jamil, submitted false claims to 1st Central Insurance.
On 24 January 2011 on the A406 Redbridge roundabout a collision occurs, Ali Malik & Nazema Nawaz submitted false claims to Equity Insurance.
On 16 June 2011 a collision occurs on the Leeds Outer Ring road. Ali Malik & Mazhar Iqbal submitted fraudulent claims to Admiral Insurance.
A collision occurred on 20 February 2012 on the A41 J/w A406. Mohammed Zubair Jamil, Rafal Parczewski and Daniel Zakrzewski submitted false claims to Churchill insurance.
A collision occurred on 27 April 2012 on the A41 J/w A406. Mohammed Zubair Jamil, Anna Olenczuk, Barbara Aftewicz, Jadwiga Pawloska and Miroslaw Lewandowski submitted false claims to the COOP Insurance.
On 22 December 2012 a collision occurred on the M1 slip road at Junction 9. Mohammad Zubair Jamil, Shuel Miah, Raheel Aktar and Mohammed Ashan, submitted false claims to Aviva Insurance.
On 24 December 2012 at junction 5 of the M1 a collision occurred. , Mohammed Zubair Jamil, Rafal Parczewski, Daniel Zakrzewski, Mikolaj Parczewski and Maria Aftewicz submitted false insurance claims to Ageas Insurance.
On 24 December 2012 on the A405 North Orbital Road a collision occurred. Mohammad Zubair Jamil, Suat Mazi, and Emrah Yildiz submitted fraudulent insurance claims to Axa Insurance.
Between 1 January and 28 December 2012, Ali Malik, Mohammed Zubair Jamil conspired with others to commit fraud.
On 30 January 2013 a collision occurred on the Kidney Wood Roundabout Luton. Mohammed Zubair Jamil and Gulraiz Fazal, submitted fraudulent insurance claims to Aviva Insurance.
On 4 March 2013 a collision occurred on the M25 junction 21A (M1). Ali Malik and Nazema Nawaz, submitted fraudulent insurance claims to Admiral Insurance.
Between 1 January and 30 October 2013, Mazhar Iqbal conspired with others to commit fraud.
Between 1 January and 6 August 2014, Ali Malik, Nazema Nawaz, Mohammed Nisar conspired together to commit fraud.