Fraudster sold fake no-claims bonuses

A FAKE insurance broker charged motorists fees of up to €600 to get them cheaper premiums, a court has heard.

Martin Hanudel, 26, from Tubberclaire Meadows, Navan, Co. Meath, pleaded guilty in Trim Circuit Court to 12 charges of deception between June 2016 and March 2017.

Hanudel – who was described as a ‘ghost broker’ in court – targeted social media sites used by members of the Slovak community, the court was told.

Hanudel charged the unsuspecting motorists a fee of €500 to €600 and then gave false no-claims bonuses to the underwriters to get cheaper motor insurance, Garda George Thurlow told the court.

Garda Thurlow explained to the court that a ghost broker was a term used for a fraudster that acts as an intermediate between the motorist and the underwriter.

He said they give misleading information to underwriters.

Hanudel got ten motor insurance policies from Patrona Underwriters in Wexford, one from Axa and one policy from Zurich, Garda Thurlow told the court.

The clients paid Hanudel his fee in cash and paid the underwriters separately.

The court heard the insurers were at a loss of €10,000, as they had refunded Hanudel’s clients when they voided their policies.

The accused also pleaded guilty to possessing of four stun guns and six cans of pepper spray on February 10, 2016.

Judge Martina Baxter adjourned the case to March 19.