A complex fraud investigation by Hill Dickinson Fraud Unit & Thames Valley Police has successfully ensured five people were found guilty last Thursday (10/1), for their involvement in a fatal road traffic collision in Denham on 11 June 2011.
The landmark case, heard at Reading Crown Court, is the first of its kind in the country as the deliberately-caused accident, arranged as part of a plan to commit insurance fraud, led to a second collision causing the death of an innocent member of the public.
Chris Hallett, Director of Intel & Complex Fraud at Hill Dickinson commented, “Hill Dickinson Fraud Unit regularly works in partnership with regional police forces investigating ‘crash for cash’ gangs. It has always been only a matter of time before an innocent road user was injured or killed. We welcomed the opportunity to work closely with Thames Valley Police and assist them, alongside our insurer client, during the early stages of their investigation into this tragic event. Our sympathies, thoughts and condolences go to the family of Baljinder Gill.”
Sgt Jim Upton, from the Three Mile Cross Roads Policing department, said: “This was a despicable act which led to the tragic death of an innocent motorist. They were purely motivated by greed and a determination to abuse the compensation culture that is prevalent in crash for cash. This is the first case of its kind within the United Kingdom and it has been a long, complex and protracted investigation.
However, we were clear at an early stage that this was a very unusual fatal collision and we were determined to bring all those responsible to justice. I hope that the verdict provides the family of the victim with the sense that some justice has been done. They have been through a horrendous ordeal by the selfish actions of these men.”
Andrzej Boguslaw Skowron, aged 25, from Shelley Gardens, Wembley, has been convicted of causing death by dangerous driving and conspiracy to commit fraud.
Radoslaw Piotr Bielawski, aged 24, from Rosewood Avenue, Greenford has been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving and conspiracy to commit fraud. He had already pleaded guilty to doing acts tending to pervert the course of justice.
Jacek Kowalczyk, aged 32, from Fraser Road, Perivale, Greenford, has been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving, conspiracy to commit fraud and doing acts tending to pervert the course of justice.
Artur Okrutny, aged 23, from Briar Road, London, has been convicted of doing acts tending to pervert the course of justice.
Colin Lee, aged 32, from York Place, Aylesbury, was found guilty of causing death by careless driving. Lee was the driver of the van that fatally collided with the victim.
The men have all been bailed until 15th February to be sentenced at Reading Crown Court.
