Janitor guilty of immigration fraud

By Tony Spears, Ottawa Sun

First posted: Friday, November 27, 2015 07:42 PM EST  

An Ottawa janitor moonlighted as an immigration fixer, pocketing thousands of dollars while trying to bribe Canadian immigration officials, a judge has found.
Mohamed Farah Abdulle, 53, was convicted last week of Immigration and Refugee Protection Act charges as well as Criminal Code counts for fraud, identity theft and uttering false documents.
Abdulle was a familiar face at Canadian Immigration Canada's Catherine St. offices, Judge Robert Beaudoin wrote in his lengthy decision.
He was the point person for dozens of so called "Group of Five" or "G5" sponsorship files, in which five or more people band together to sponsor one or more refugees.
The sponsors have to put up at least $12,000 in financial support; immigration officials needed to see proof of income from sponsors to make sure they could put their money where their mouths were.
An alert official realized the chatty Abdulle had become "the most prolific G5 sponsor" and that his groups had pledged nearly $1 million.
"He also knew Mr. Abdulle was a janitor," Beaudoin wrote.
Canada Border Services Agency investigators began their probe in February 2011.
Meanwhile, Abdulle continued to visit immigration officials.
At a meeting in a citizenship court judge's office he told a staffer that "if she helped him out, he could help her out,"
Beaudoin wrote. Abdulle suggested he could help pay her mortgage and in a November 2011 meeting he said he'd pay her $500 per application she processed, the court heard.
He was arrested on Nov. 17, 2011.
The trial heard from a number of witnesses whose names appeared as sponsors on various documents Abdulle submitted.
Many said the signatures affixed to the documents weren't theirs and they denied having any involvement with sponsoring refugees.
One man said "he never signed a G5 form in his life," Beaudoin wrote.
"He did not consider himself a humanitarian."
Abdulle also took thousands of dollars from people seeking to sponsor family members, the judge found.
Defence lawyer Elena Davies called her client to the stand, but Abdulle proved unhelpful.
"I found the accused systematically avoided answering any questions at this trial unless forced by me to do so," Beaudoin wrote.
The judge also noted that Abdulle claimed to have no money and that he had last worked in 2008 -- yet his wife owned a $400,000 home and Abdulle claimed to have invested $106,000.
"The accused's evidence is contradicted by the voluminous documentary evidence that was filed at this trial," Beaudoin wrote.
A date for a sentencing hearing has not yet been set and Abdulle remains free on bail.
Twitter: @ottawasuntonys

Scammers pretending to collect donations for Ottawa Police

Posted on 11/24/2015 10:57:00 AM by CFRA News Staff

Ottawa Police are warning the public about a scammer, who is pretending to collect donations on behalf of the Ottawa Police Service.

The fraud unit says the scammer is attempting to get victims' credit card numbers.

Police say they do not solicit donations from the public and are asking victims of the scam to come forward and file a report.

If you would like to make a charitable donation, police suggest going directly to the organization.

http://www.cfra.com/news/2015/11/24/scammers-pretending-to-collect-donations-for-ottawa-police

Police warn of 'Chinese evil spirits scam'

By Sam Cooley, Ottawa Sun

First posted: Tuesday, November 17, 2015 10:00 PM EST | Updated: Tuesday, November 17, 2015 10:03 PM EST 

Elderly Chinese women may be getting duped into bringing valuables to a fake doctor promising to "cleanse them of evil spirits."
The Chinese evil spirits scam is happening in other Canadian jurisdictions, according to police, who are worried it may be in Ottawa.
Unsuspecting victims -- in their inner search to get rid of bad omens -- are instructed to place gold, jewels and other valuables in a bag so it can get "blessed" to remove evil spirits.
But then the bag is swapped out with an empty one and the scammers get away.
The scheme typically requires the victim to be convinced of its authenticity by a "well organized" group of swindlers.
First, the victim is approached by a supposed spiritual doctor or traditional herbalist who promises to cleanse the individual of evil spirits. Another con man nearby vouches for the fake doctor in an effort to gain credibility with the victim. Throughout, the victim is led to believe it's just a series of chance encounters.
Anyone with information with respect to this scam is asked to contact the Ottawa Police organized fraud section at 613-236-1222 ext. 5292. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or by downloading the Ottawa police app.

http://www.ottawasun.com/2015/11/17/police-warn-of-chinese-evil-spirits-scam

 

Traffic officer suspended amid probe into alleged fake warnings

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/traffic-officer-suspended-amid-probe-into-alleged-fake-warnings

Shaamini Yogaretnam, Ottawa Citizen
More from Shaamini Yogaretnam, Ottawa Citizen

Published on: November 9, 2015 | Last Updated: November 9, 2015 7:00 PM EST

 

Ottawa police have launched a widespread internal investigation into an allegation that fake traffic warnings were issued to falsify internal statistics, the Citizen has learned.
At least one traffic escort officer has been suspended and as many as 10 officers are subjects in the internal probe in which police are investigating their own.
Const. Edward Ellis was suspended with pay Sept. 30 after what multiple sources have called a “stack” of provincial offence notices was found in his police cruiser by another officer. It’s not known how many notices were in the cruiser when they were discovered, but both the officer copies and the versions that should have been given to the motorists who were warned were found.
Police are now conducting an audit of all provincial offence notice numbers generated. The time frame the audit encompasses was not immediately known.
Initially alleged to be the misconduct of one officer, the probe has now grown to investigate whether the alleged practice is rampant and “systemic” among other officers, sources said.
The notices alleged to have been found in Ellis’s cruiser were believed to have all been warnings, which are distinct from tickets.
Warnings, which are printed citations, and tickets, which carry a fine or penalty, are weighted equally for statistical purposes. No revenue comes from warnings — they are used for public education and for internal stats only.
Those statistics, which rank officers, are used as an internal measure both by officers seeking transfers or promotions in the force and by the unit as a whole to measure its efforts and successes.
A provincial offence notice number is generated for each infraction, but warnings require no follow up. While police issue them frequently, the recipient is not expected to do anything but change their driving behaviour. Often, officers who use their discretion and decide not to ticket someone won’t even print out the warning and will instead choose to issue a verbal warning.
The professional standards section, which investigates alleged officer misconduct, confirmed Ellis’s suspension but would not offer information on what led to his suspension.

Chief Charles Bordeleau said he “cannot comment on any investigation that is taking place at this point in time.”

Traffic and road safety is one of the Bordeleau’s operational priorities.

“Rest assured, members of the public should continue to have confidence in the work of the members of the Ottawa Police Service.”

Bordeleau also said the force routinely conducts “proactive audits.”

Ellis, and another officer unrelated to the traffic investigation, received a commendation letter in April 2009 for responding to a call for service involving a retired police officer dealing with post traumatic stress disorder.
“I really want to impress upon you the absolute professionalism and respect these two young officers displayed through their dealings with our member and myself,” the letter writer said. “Constable Ellis … displayed the best qualities that police should have (that of empathy and compassion).”
Ellis was paid $110,664.48 in 2014, according to the province’s sunshine list for public servants.
syogaretnam@ottawacitizen.com
twitter.com/shaaminiwhy
 

Police seeking suspect in roof repair fraud scam

by MELANIE.ADAMS

Posted Nov 4, 2015 12:56 pm EST

OTTAWA — Ottawa Police are after a suspect in a fraud case that involves door-to-door roof repair sales.

Investigators say a man encouraged people to have their roofs repaired, took a deposit, then disappeared without explanation.

They’re looking for Philip Slobodzian, 44, on two counts of fraud under $5000 dollars and two counts of possession of proceeds of crime in relation to construction scams.

Police say the suspect has prior convictions under the Consumer Protection Act for unethical business practices.

He’s believed to be living in the Arnprior or Renfrew area.

If you have any information on his whereabouts, please contact the Ottawa Police Service Fraud Unit at 613-236-1222 ext. 5433.

Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS) or by downloading the Ottawa Police app.

http://www.1310news.com/2015/11/04/police-seeking-suspect-in-roof-repair-fraud-scam/

OPP officer charged with theft and drug possession

OPP officer charged with theft and drug possession

Posted on 10/31/2015 9:17:00 PM by Jenn Pritchard

A veteran OPP officer is facing a long list of offences after an investigation in Brockville.
The OPP Professional Standards Bureau arrested and charged Provincial Constable George Duke, 52, on Saturday.
Constable Duke is a 20 year member of the OPP.
He has been charged with:

• Theft Over $5,000
• Possession of Property Obtained By Crime, Over $5,000
• Breach of Trust
• Unlawful Possession of a Restricted Firearm
• Unsafe Storage of a Firearm
• Unsafe Storage of Ammunition
• Possession of a Firearm Without a Licence
• Possession of Schedule II Substance

He has been suspended from duty, with pay and will be in court on December 11 to face the charges.



http://www.cfra.com/news/2015/10/31/opp-officer-charged-with-theft-and-drug-possession-