Fraud charges after suspect vehicle crashes

8:30am Thursday 6th November 2008

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TWO Bury men have been charged with conspiracy to commit fraud as part of a massive police operation.

Abdul Ghafoor (57), of Parkhills Road, and 31-year-old Farid Rabbini, of Andrew Street, were among nine people who appeared at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court last Friday. All are due to reappear on Monday, December 22 for plea and case management hearings.

Last Friday, at the same court, a man who staged car accidents to claim insurance payouts pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges. Mohammed Patel (23), of Bolton, had his case adjourned for sentencing at a later date.

Patel's plea is the result of a Greater Manchester Police investigation that was launched in January.

Operation Contact is currently investigating several hundred road traffic collisions that took place in Lancashire, Cheshire and Greater Manchester and their subsequent insurance claims.

Apart from those charged in connection with the police operation, a further 14 people are on bail and several others are still being investigated as part of the ongoing operation.