Latest news with #insuranceFraud
CBS News
3 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
LAPD reserve officer and his brother arrested for insurance fraud
A reserve officer from the Los Angeles Police Department and his brother face insurance fraud charges after they allegedly staged photos of a crash for a false claim. The alleged scheme started on Jan. 2, 2023, after a customer of reserve officer Eric "Ben" Halem's exotic rental company crashed a Bentley Continental GT. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department responded to the collision and used their body cameras to document the damage before impounding the luxury car. The renter filed a claim with their insurance provider, but it was denied, according to the California Department of Insurance. After learning about the denial, Eric Halem allegedly filed a claim under his personal policy and told adjusters that his brother Jacob Halem had crashed the Bentley on Jan. 5, 2023. Former LAPD officer and current reserve officer Eric "Ben" Halem, 37, was charged with insurance fraud after allegedly staging photos of a crash. CA Department of Insurance Investigators said the brothers staged photos of the damaged luxury car on a tow truck near the alleged crash site. The Department of Insurance added that Jacob Halem allegedly filed a false statement with investigators. After receiving the claim, the provider realized that Eric Halem had contacted them twice to obtain proof of insurance to release the damaged Bentley from the impound lot. They compared the deputies' bodycam footage to the Halem brothers' photos and determined the damage to the luxury car was identical, according to the Department of Insurance.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Inside the 'sham' heist allegedly staged by luxury jeweller at his own store
The staged heist of $2.8 million in jewellery taken from a high-end city store was planned ahead of an attempted insurance fraud by an owner weighed down with debt. A jury on Wednesday was told Michel Germani staged the robbery of his store in January 2023, having owed more than $184,000 in unpaid rent to Sydney 's Hilton Hotel. The now 67-year-old formed a plan with an associate to regain some funds before the store was shuttered. A meet-up was arranged after hours with two robbers posing as customers who would then empty two safes of their valuables and remove all CCTV evidence from inside the store. A later insurance claim seeking to recoup $2,821,348 for 164 items of jewellery 'stolen' was denied. The details emerged as Germani and two co-accused in the scheme Mounir Helou, 59, and Andrea David Cusumano, 59, face trial at Sydney's Downing Centre District Court. 'All was not as it seemed - the robbery was in fact a sham,' crown prosecutor Cate Dobbs told the jury on Wednesday. 'It was a staged robbery, it was an inside job.' Helou and another man Shanel Tofaeono attended the store about 6.30pm claiming they wanted to examine a $150,000 tennis necklace, the jurors heard. During the 11-minute robbery, Germani and his shop attendant Lana Al-Khoury were 'manhandled', and had their hands and legs bound with cable ties. Ms Al-Khoury was also tied to a chair. A security guard who later freed her noticed the shop assistant was 'very distressed and panicking,' Ms Dodd said. A key issue in the trial will be whether Ms Al-Khoury knew the robbery was staged or if prosecutors can prove beyond reasonable doubt she was an unwilling participant. 'The defence will ultimately be that the Crown cannot prove that case,' Germani's barrister Matthew Kalyk told the jury. Helou's barrister Luke Brasch said even if the shop assistant was not involved in the scheme, his client believed at the time she was. Germani has pleaded not guilty to one count of aggravated robbery and one count of detaining without consent - both of which relate to what happened to Ms Al-Khoury on the night. He has admitted staging the robbery to gain financially through the attempted insurance claim and to providing false statements to police. Helou has also admitted staging the robbery but has denied a more serious charge of aggravated robbery against Ms Al-Khoury. Both Germani and Helou are accused of committing 'corporal violence' on the shop attendant. Cusumano is accused of playing a lesser role in the scheme - registering a new mobile phone bought for the sham robbery and making a call to Germani to arrange the after-hours appointment. He has pleaded not guilty to one count of committing the staged robbery to obtain a financial advantage. Ms Dodd told the jury Cusumano was also with Helou and Tofaeono when cable ties and two pairs of gloves used in the sham robbery were purchased from Bunnings. She said the evidence would show Germani had made two previous attempts to plan the robbery. When the first fell through, he contacted a friend on January 10, 2023 saying he needed two men to rob his store and he would leave $20,000 to $25,000 in the safe for them as payment. That friend agreed but called police instead. When officers attended the Hilton store on January 13, they informed Germani someone was planning an 'insurance job' at his premises but did not disclose who. Despite this, he continued with his failed plan.
The Sun
07-05-2025
- The Sun
Brit army major charged with murdering wife in Kayak ‘accident' moved to Thailand with new bride after her death
A FORMER British army officer charged with murdering his wife in a kayaking incident had moved to Thailand with a new bride following the death. Graeme Davidson, 55, has been charged with domestic violence murder, fraud, and attempted fraud. 5 5 He was arrested in Brisbane on Monday while visiting from his current residence in Thailand. Police allege that he killed his wife and attempted to claim more than $1million AUD (£483,000) in life insurance policies following her death in November 2020. But Davidson is reported to have left Australia five months after his wife died. He moved to Thailand where he remarried a young bride named Pick Pattraporn at a traditional ceremony in late 2022. Davidson was reportedly active in the expat community in Thailand, where it is believed his son had joined him according to the MailOnline. He was back in Australia to visit family when he was arrested. Jacqueline Davidson, 54, died after falling into the water during a kayaking trip at Lake Samsonvale, Queensland. Her death was initially believe to be a tragic accident, but a homicide probe was launched following further coronial investigations. A Queensland police statement says: "Initially, the woman's death appeared to be non-suspicious." Detective Acting Inspector Steve Windsor told reporters: "The cause of death was drowning but it was a case of talking to witnesses and gaining further evidence that the matter appeared suspicious." He added that detectives had gathered witnesses and expert statements, as well as analysis of lake conditions. He said: "Incidents are not always what they initially seem, so I thank the detectives for their diligent work." Davidson had served in the British Army for 22 years before he transferred to the Australian Army. A former friend told Daily Mail Australia that his deceased wife was a "beautiful and very friendly" woman. She had worked as a beautician in the Brisbane suburb Chermside. Police had reportedly been considering extraditing Davidson from Thailand but decided against it, according to reports. The opted instead to arrest him when he returned to Australia. Bodycam footage of his arrest shows cops entering the room where he was sleeping on a fold-out sofa. He can be seen sitting upright and throwing off blankets before being escorted out. Det Insp Windsor added that police would allege there was "some form of breakdown in the relationship" at the time of Jacqueline's death. He further said the fraud charges relate to Davidson allegedly claiming, and attempting to claim, life insurance policies. He said: 'The combined life insurance was in excess of $1 million. They were quite extensive.' Police want anyone who can provide further information to come forward. 5 5
