Driver pleads guilty to possession of counterfeit no claims bonus
A DRIVER who used a fake no claims bonus certificate to get a €1,400 discount on his car insurance has been convicted of a fraud offence.
Vladimirs Mundums, aged 31, gave the counterfeit cert to the firm because he “couldn’t afford” to get insurance legitimately, his defence said.
Blanchardstown District Court
Judge David McHugh fined him €250 at Blanchardstown District Court.
Mundums, with an address at Rye Cottage, Boot Road, Clondalkin pleaded guilty to possession of a counterfeit no claims bonus at Forster Way, Ballydowd Manor, Lucan.
Garda Sergeant Maria Callaghan said the accused took out a car insurance policy with 123.ie, with a start date the following day.
Mundums provided a no claims bonus certificate purporting to be from another insurance company Hastings Direct, receiving a discount of €1,462 on his insurance as a result. Enquiries made with that firm established that this document was not genuine and the policy was subsequently cancelled, the court heard.
Sgt Callaghan said the DPP was directing summary disposal of the case at district court level and Judge McHugh accepted jurisdiction to deal with it after hearing the prosecution’s evidence.
Mundums had no previous convictions, the court heard.
He had been in the country for a year, his solicitor Valerie Buckley said.
“He’s not doing very well, is he?” Judge McHugh said.
The accused was living in Lucan and had to travel to Navan, Co Meath for work purposes, Ms Buckley said.
He had tried to obtain valid insurance but was not able to do so because he “couldn’t afford it,” she said.
There was an ad on Facebook and he followed it up, Ms Buckley added.
Mundums regretted his actions.
Judge McHugh fined him €250, giving him six months to pay the fine. The court heard his licence would not be affected by the conviction because it was a charge under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act.
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