Photo: Peel Police
An Oakville man is among a group charged with fraud by the Peel Regional Police Service.
Between Thursday, January 30th and Thursday, February 27th, it is alleged that, Ankur Bhatiani, an employee of a Mississauga car dealership, utilized his position as a sales associate to facilitate the fraudulent transactions of ten vehicles with an approximate value of $373,738. Police allege that he coordinated these fraudulent transactions enabling the other involved parties to obtain a variety of cars and SUVs. The involved ten vehicles were unlawfully purchased with the intent to have them shipped out of the country. All the vehicles were safely recovered in Ontario.
Following an investigation, on Tuesday, April 29th, investigators arrested and charged 42-year-old Ankur Bhatiani of Oakville with the following offences:
- Fraud Over $5000
- Use of Forged Documents
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
An additional six people were later identified, arrested and charged with Fraud Over $5000:
- 24-year-old Andreea Olivia Paulet of Richmond Hill
- 25-year-old Daiana Ionela Necula of Scarborough
- 40-year-old Ion Cristea of Toronto
- 34-year-old Ilarion Rupita of Oshawa
- 30-year-old Vialis-Aramis Curt of Brampton
- 25-year-old Andreea Gabriela Pisla of Brampton
All the arrested parties were released on undertakings and are to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton at a later date.
Investigation is ongoing and police are actively looking for 34-year-old Cristian Filip and 22-year-old Rafael Gabriel Chirita. Both wanted for:
- Fraud Over $5000
- Uttering Forged Documents
Fraudulently obtained vehicles are another form of organized auto theft, and this investigation has contributed to decreasing the prevalence of this crime in the Region of Peel.
Anyone with information pertaining to this matter, including the location of Cristian Filip and Rafael Gabriel Chirita, is asked to contact the Fraud Bureau at (905) 453-3311, ext. 3335. Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or by visiting peelcrimestoppers.ca.
