Brazil travel insurance fraudsters’ guilty plea to escape jail
Shanti Andrews and Rebecca Turner, the two British law graduates accused of attempted insurance fraud in Brazil, are expected to plead guilty, the BBC reports.
They are on bail until their trial, scheduled for 17 August. Their lawyer, Renato Tonini, said all evidence against them would be heard before they were asked to enter a plea.
They were likely to plead guilty and it was unlikely the pair would be given jail terms.
Warning to other fradusters
Channel 4 said holidaymakers have been warned they face higher insurance costs and possible prosecution if they are caught making fraudulent travel insurance claims.
The Association of British Insurers said it detected 4,300 dishonest travel insurance claims worth £5m during 2008.
It warned that insurers and overseas police forces were becoming increasingly vigilant about insurance cheats, with details of fraudulent claims now kept on industry-wide databases used by insurers and other financial services firms.
Anyone caught trying to cheat their insurer would face higher insurance costs and problems obtaining other cover, such as motor and house insurance.
