Toronto-area rehab clinics, clinic owners and directors face 28 charges over fake insurance invoices
Four Greater Toronto Area rehabilitation clinics and six individuals affiliated with the clinics have been charged with offences under Ontario’s Insurance Act. The Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) says these clinics and individuals are alleged to have submitted false invoices to insurers as part of a staged auto accident ring.
FSCO charged the following clinics with one count each of knowingly making false or misleading statements to an auto insurer to obtain payment for goods and services provided to an insured and engaging in an unfair or deceptive act or practice:
- McCowan Rehabilitation Clinic (1583 Ellesmere Road, Suite 104, Scarborough, Ontario)
- Ontario Rehabilitation Clinic (3031 Markham Road, Suite 31, Scarborough, Ontario)
- Physiotherapy Clinic (1920 Ellesmere Road, Suite 110, Scarborough, Ontario)
- North York Health & Rehabilitation Centre (1280 Finch Avenue West, Suite 519, Toronto, Ontario)
Several individuals affiliated with these clinics were also charged with the following offences:
- Vishnukanthan Sabapathy (four counts each of: knowingly making false or misleading statements to an auto insurer to obtain payment for goods and services provided to an insured and engaging in an unfair or deceptive act or practice pertaining to each of the four rehabilitation clinics identified above)
- Thayalan Thamootharampillai (one count each of: failing to take reasonable care to prevent the company from making false statements to an insurer and from engaging in an unfair or deceptive act or practice)
- Jeyakanthan Thivendran (one count each of: failing to take reasonable care to prevent the company from making false statements to an insurer and from engaging in an unfair or deceptive act or practice)
- Sujeegah Kanagalingam (one count each of: failing to take reasonable care to prevent the company from making false statements to an insurer and from engaging in an unfair or deceptive act or practice)
- Sipaskaran Sabaratnam (one count each of: failing to take reasonable care to prevent the company from making false statements to an insurer and from engaging in an unfair or deceptive act or practice)
- Nishanathan Ponnuthurai (one count each of: failing to take reasonable care to prevent the company from making false statements to an insurer and from engaging in an unfair or deceptive act or practice).
The Toronto Police Service has also laid criminal charges in relation to these matters.
FSCO investigates allegations of misconduct, unfair practices and non-compliance with legislation or regulations in its regulated sectors. When warranted, FSCO takes enforcement action.
