Conman who falsely claimed he suffered multiple injuries when a bus hit his parked car was caught out when CCTV showed him SPRINTING after the driver to remonstrate with him
- Zafar Iqbal wasn’t even in his car when a bus nudged the vehicle in Bristol
- CCTV captured him standing by his car then chasing after the bus driver
- But he wrote to First Bus claiming he’s suffered severe pain in multiple areas
- Footage surfaced after he was jailed for six months and order to pay £30,000
This is the moment a conman who claimed he suffered multiple injuries when a bus nudged his parked car sprinted after the vehicle unharmed.
Jobless Zafar Iqbal wasn’t even in his car when a bus nudged it in Bristol on July 6 2015.
The 45-year-old was standing by his vehicle when he took off to run after the driver and complain about damage.
But in a damages form he sent to First Bus, he wrote that he had been injured in a crash.
Iqbal claimed he suffered ‘severe pain to his shoulder, leg, back, ankle, upper leg and right side of chest’ and demanded compensation.
Jobless Iqbal (pictured on July 6 2015 in Bristol) was shown not to have even been in his car when the bus nudged it
Iqbal is pictured here on CCTV chasing wildly after the bus to complain about damage to his vehicle, but later claimed he was injured in the incident
He also said he’d suffered ‘sleep disruption’ and was unable to go shopping, do DIY, walk or exercise properly and that he could ‘no longer take part in social activities’.
Insurance industry law firm Horwich Farrelly exposed his lies and today released the footage of him chasing the bus after Iqbal was jailed for six months on May 24.
He had initially denied all the counts against him, but just days before his trial was due to begin he confessed to nine counts of contempt of court, which saw him caged for six months.
He was also ordered to pay the legal costs of First Bus, amounting to just over £30,000.
Judge Julian Lambert, sitting at Bristol Crown Corut, told the court: ‘These cases are an assault on our system of justice.
‘Dishonest claims strike at the heart of the fair administration of justice. The impact of false claims on society is great.
Iqbal (pictured on June 6 2015 in Bristol) has been jailed for six months and ordered to pay £30,000 to First Bus
The 45-year-old (pictured in Bristol on July 6 2015) sprinted after the driver to complain about damage to his car but later claimed the incident left him in severe pain
‘Those who bring false claims should expect to be sent to prison. The Respondent’s conduct was serious, persistent and wilful. Only a custodial sentence can be justified bearing in mind the threat to justice.’
A spokesman for Horwich Farrelly said today: ‘Public transport operator First Bus working with Horwich Farrelly, has successfully secured the conviction of a fraudster who claimed to have been severely injured when a bus collided with his car, despite not actually being in the vehicle at the time.
‘Following a thorough investigation and committal proceedings, Mr Zafar Iqbal, unemployed, aged 45, was sentenced to six months imprisonment.
‘The initial claim was made in 2015 when a First Bus vehicle collided with Mr Iqbal’s stationary parked vehicle on Bedminster Parade, Bristol, causing minor damage.
‘Mr Iqbal claimed he was sitting in the vehicle at the time and, despite it only being a small collision, suffered severe pain to his shoulder, leg, back, ankle, upper leg and right side of chest.’
She added: ‘Investigations by Horwich Farrelly on behalf of First Bus found that Mr Iqbal was not seriously injured in the collision – in fact he wasn’t even in his vehicle at the time of the incident.
‘CCTV footage shows him standing outside of his car and running after the bus after the incident.
‘Mr Iqbal admitted to nine grounds of contempt of court and was sentenced to six months imprisonment.’
Julie Randle, Fraud Prevention Officer at First Bus, said: ‘Attempted frauds against our companies will not be tolerated.
‘Mr Iqbal had nearly three years to admit to his actions, but greed took precedence. He gave no consideration to the effects of his actions on the travelling public or anyone else.
‘As this case demonstrates, First Bus will take whatever steps are necessary to defend fraudulent claims through the courts and in Mr Iqbal’s case that has resulted in six months’ imprisonment, a criminal record and fines totalling tens of thousands of pounds.’
Ronan McCann, Managing Partner at Horwich Farrelly, said: ‘It was right and proper that the courts took a hard line against Mr Iqbal.
‘Despite having plenty of time to admit his claim was false he persisted in pursuing First Bus.
‘A case of this nature demonstrates the very real consequences of making a fraudulent claim.
‘It also underlines the commitment of Horwich Farrelly to continue to work with the industry to combat fraudulent cases and ensure that honest customers do not suffer from the dishonest actions of others.’
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