Charges Laid In Bankruptcy Fraud Investigation

TORONTO, May 20, 2015 /CNW/ - The Integrated Bankruptcy Enforcement Unit comprised of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) - Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Financial Crime Section and the Ontario Region Special Investigation Unit of the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB), charged a Brampton woman with offences under the Criminal Code (CC) and Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA).

In December 2013, the Integrated Bankruptcy Unit began their investigation of 40 year old Shezeen ZAHEER HUSSAIN. At the time of her bankruptcy, Ms. HUSSAIN had approximate assets of $41,000 and liabilities of $475,000. It is alleged that Ms. HUSSAIN obtained credit by using fraudulent employment documents and provided false employment information on her credit applications with the intention of defrauding her creditors as well as altered supporting documents to support the credit card applications. 

Shezeen ZAHEER HUSSAIN, age 40, is charged with:

• Fraud over $5,000 (4 counts) of the Criminal Code (CC),
• Utter forged document (2 counts) of the Criminal Code (CC),
• Obtain credit by false pretence (8 counts) of the Criminal Code (CC),
• Dispose of property to defraud creditors of the Criminal Code (CC),
• Refuse or neglect to answer fully and truthfully proper questions at an examination of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA),
• Make a material omission in a statement or accounting of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA),
• Disposal of property obtained on unpaid credit of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA).

The matter is scheduled for first appearance at Ontario Court of Justice – Old City Hall in Toronto on May 22, 2015.

The bankruptcy system is intended for the honest but unfortunate debtor. However, there are instances where individuals abuse the system by failing to comply with their duties under the BIA and/or engaging in fraudulent criminal activities. Offences are identified through detection programs or through complaints from creditors, trustee or the public.

Should members of the public have any information related to bankruptcy fraud schemes they are urged to contact either the Ontario RCMP at 1-800-387-0020 or the OSB at 1-877-376-9902 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Website: RCMP in Ontario
Twitter: @RCMPONT
Facebook: RCMP.Ontario
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SOURCE Royal Canadian Mounted Police

For further information: For media inquiries contact: Sgt. Penny HERMANN, RCMP Media Relations, RCMP "O" Division, 905-876-9571, http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/on/index-eng.htm