A husband and wife have been arrested on allegations of defrauding several insurance companies after police learned that the husband – who supposedly died in 2008 – was living in California.
Toronto Police Service said the husband purchased several life insurance policies, totalling more than $3.5 million, between 2006 and 2008. The beneficiary of those policies was his wife.
In 2008, police said the couple travelled to Iran, where the husband supposedly died of a heart attack. The man's death could not be confirmed by the insurance companies, and they subsequently launched a probe.
While the claims were under investigation, the wife started a civil litigation against the insurance companies in 2009, claiming $10 million in damages. Less than a year later, in September 2010, a payout of more than $1 million was given to the wife by the insurance companies.
That same month, police said the husband entered the U.S. via Los Angeles International Airport. He arrived via Rome using his Canadian passport, which was supposed to have been returned to the Canadian Consulate in Iran.
In November 2010, police said the wife purchased a $420,000 home in California using the insurance payouts.
When Toronto police learned that the husband was alive in California, an extradition process was launched. Police did not say when they discovered the husband was in the U.S.
The insurance companies involved in the case are: London Life Insurance Company; Great-West Life Assurance; Desjardin Financial Security Life Assurance Company; and State Farm International Life Insurance Company.
Alireza Shojaei, 45, has been charged with four counts of fraud over $5,000. His wife, Koukab Shojaei, 41, is also charged with four counts of fraud over $5,000, and uttering a forged document.
The couple has pleaded guilty.
Police say there may be more victims.
