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A doctor has been arrested on suspicion of helping fabricate medical certificates on up to 30 fraudulent insurance claims.
The man, who is in his 50s and runs a medical practice in North Dublin, was arrested as part of a Garda investigation into some 200 bogus insurance claims that were filed with the help of a law firm.
The firm, which has a presence in both Ireland and the UK, is suspected of working with doctors in Ireland to manufacture or embellish medical certificates detailing soft tissue injuries that never occurred.
These were then used to fraudulently claim money from insurance companies. In at least some cases, the plaintiffs did not exist. In other cases, the details listed in the claim were completely false.
The doctor had allegedly helped make fraudulent medical certificates for at least a year and possibly much longer.
The investigation, which is being carried out by the Garda National Economic Crimes Bureau (GNECB), is part of Operation Fraction, which targets a network of legal, medical and other professionals believed to be involved. on false insurance claims.
The operation was established after complaints to gardaí from the Personal Injury Assessment Board (PIAB) which noted that some of the complaints contained incorrect or suspicious details.
More arrests, including those of medical professionals, are expected in the near future, the sources said.
“It is alleged that approximately 200 insurance claims were made using false identities, false utility bills supported by false medical certificates,” according to a Garda spokesperson.
It is understood that some of these claims have already been paid, while others are currently in court.
The doctor was arrested by GNECB detectives on Friday morning “as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged fraudulent insurance claims,” a spokesman said.
He was arrested on suspicion of two categories of offenses under the Criminal Justice (Robbery and Fraud) Act 2001; deception, which carries a maximum penalty of five years and the use of a false instrument, which carries up to ten years in prison.
The suspect is being held for questioning at a Garda station in North Dublin, where he can be held for up to 24 hours.
“Investigations are ongoing,” a spokesman said.
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