A Melbourne father of five helped staged car crashes in a complex insurance scam he believed was a “victimless” crime.
A Melbourne father of five helped stage crashes involving luxury vehicles in a complex insurance scam.
Ahmed Abou Eid was ordered to serve a two-year community corrections order after pleading guilty to more than a dozen fraud charges in the County Court of Victoria on Thursday.
The 39-year-old played a key role in the scheme and helped stage at least 15 crashes between 2014 and 2017, the court was told.
“I note that you initially regarded it as being … a victimless crime,” Judge Richard Smith said during his sentence.
“That’s completely incorrect.”
The victims were not just the insurance companies but also the motoring public, the judge said.
It was a scam that ran for a number of years and it was carefully thought out, but the judge said he didn’t believe he was the only one involved, he said.
“I’m of the view that your role was a key one, a setting up of the fraudulent collisions was a key part and essential to the success of the scheme.”
But it was unclear how much the father of five gained from the lengthy fraud.
At the time of the crimes Abou Eid was struggling with an addiction to gambling and cocaine, the court wast old.
He was heavily indebted and struggling financially and has been diagnosed with a major depressive disorder and suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome.
Abou Eid – who operated a tow truck – was 29 when he saw two of his friends fatally gunned down at a panel beating shop.
As part of his community corrections order he must complete 200 hours of unpaid community work and undergo drug, alcohol and mental health treatment.
He was also ordered to pay $52,000 in reparation.
It’s understood some of the cars involved in the rort were luxury vehicles.
Source: News AU
