Fraudster must write apology to MPI president
A Winnipeg man must write a letter of apology to the president of Manitoba Public Insurance after pleading guilty to fraud under $5,000.
Brent Disbrowe-Bear was given a conditional discharge on his guilty plea, but was ordered by a judge to write a letter of apology for his criminal actions. Disbrowe-Bear, now 21, was also sentenced to 15 months probation and perform 120 community service hours within one year. He was also ordered to pay restitution of $240 to Manitoba’s public auto insurer.
The court was told that on January 19, 2008 Disbrowe-Bear reported to Manitoba Public Insurance that his vehicle was struck by another motor vehicle as it was located in a parking stall at his apartment complex. There was damage to the passenger front bumper.
Disbrowe-Bear stated that he did not know who caused the damage and that he was not in the vehicle at the time of the damage.
MPI said that thanks to information provided to its Special Investigation Unit, an investigation was opened on the Disbrowe-Bear file. The investigation discovered that a witness had seen a vehicle collide with a snowbank and stop sign. The witness was able to provide the license plate of the vehicle and part of a front spoiler which had been left at the crash scene.
It was subsequently confirmed that the damage to Disbrowe-Bear’s vehicle was consistent with the vehicle travelling over an object similar to a curb or snow/ice barrier and striking a fixed object with the right front corner.
MPI said in 2009, the SIU investigated about 2,750 claims, resulting in savings of nearly $9.3 million for the public auto insurer and its ratepayers.
