More charges piled on to car workshop boss over accident scam

The Straits Times reported that 53 more charges were piled on a car workshop owner over an alleged road accident scam, bringing the total number he faces to 81. Among the fresh charges are two for giving false information to the police on 8^th December 2011 and 11^th February the following year.

Sollihin Anhar, 41 is listed as a co-director of Partners Automotive, a car repair company that was registered in July 2012, according to Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) records. He allegedly schemed with others to cheat insurance companies into processing claims for staged accidents between 2011 and last year allegedly defrauding insurance companies such as Liberty, SHC, Tokio Marine, China Taiping, AXA and NTUC.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Hon Yi said the total amount involved in all the charges is about $729,000. The total amount disbursed by insurance companies is about $79,000. Mr. Hon also sought an increase in Sollihin's current bail of $70,000.

Sollihin's lawyer Thangavelu objected and asked instead that the court extend his client's bail. He said the $78,860 paid out to claims involved many people in a conspiracy, not Sollihin alone.

District Judge Eddy Tham increased Sollihin's bail of $70,000 by another $10,000 and gave him until Friday to raise the amount. A pre-trial conference is set for 5^th September.