A Prince George man pleaded guilty Wednesday, March 5 in provincial court to providing false or misleading information to ICBC about a single-vehicle crash last year.
Judge Cassandra Malfair fined Sukhjinder Singh Sidhu $2,000.
The court heard that Sidhu did not immediately report to ICBC that his vehicle was involved in a collision with a City of Prince George light standard on Dec. 3, 2023.
When he finally called ICBC on Jan. 11, 2024, Sidhu instead claimed that the car had sustained damage in a hit-and-run at a Shoppers Drug Mart parking lot.
Sidhu repeated the story to ICBC a week later. Then, on Jan. 29, 2024, Sidhu provided a verbal, warned statement to ICBC. During that interview, Sidhu was confronted with physical evidence of the collision with the light pole and admitted he made up the story. He explained his motive was to cover up the fact that his wife had been driving.
“His wife, at the time, had a learner's licence and wasn't listed on Mr. Sidhu’s insurance,” said Eleanor Aston, an articling student acting for the Crown. “The collision caused the City of Prince George to have to pay approximately $900 to repair the light standard, and Mr. Sidhu’s car sustained approximately $9,000 of damage. But ICBC did not, in fact, pay out any money to Mr. Sidhu.”
Aston said that the costs incurred by ICBC due to fraudulent claims hurt all drivers in BC but noted that first-time offender Sidhu had pleaded guilty and avoided a trial.
Sidhu was assisted by Ellen Knife, a native court worker. Knife said Sidhu has a master’s degree in computer science and engineering from India and regretted making the false claim. He has since paid for the damage to his vehicle.
“He is aware that any further incident could result in higher fines and the possibility of jail,” Knife said.
The judge gave Sidhu, a Petro-Canada cashier, until the end of June to pay the fine.
“The proposed joint submissions are not contrary to the public interest and would not bring the administration of justice into disrepute,” Malfair said. “I will therefore accede to it.”
