Gang, including Pimlico member, charged with insurance scam

A four-man gang, including a member from Pimlico, have appeared in court over a £1 million insurance scam.

Rosul Yusuf and Halimur Rashid, both of Ilford, Essex, and Noveed Akhtar of Leyton, east London, stood trial alongside Shalim Miah of Pimlico. 

More than 120 fake car crashes were staged by the gang who all worked for accident management firms handling insurance claims on behalf of motorists. The scam involved false claims of old cars being involved in collisions with expensive vehicles such as BMWs, Jaguars and Mercedes. 

Southwark Crown Court heard how the management firms, run by two brothers, pretended to act on behalf of the drivers of the premium cars and made insurance claims such as like-for-like car hire which would cost hundreds of pounds a day. Insurers were then asked to send payments to the firms rather than the drivers. 

Three firms have been connected to the gang: Prestige Auto Group and Diamond Auto Group, both in Walthamstow, east London, and Motor Alliance situated in Tottenham, north London. 

The gang have denied the charges and the trial is continuing.