Man hit by mysterious bill of $87,000 for two cars, discovers mate had used his ID to buy them
Wednesday, 1 August 2018
A man who started getting angry letters from finance companies about two vehicles worth nearly $90,000 had no idea what they were talking about.
He later discovered that the man who'd bought his courier run had used his identity to buy the vehicles in his name.
Abdul Kahn, 26, bought the Napier run off the man in early December 2017. They became friends and the man showed Kahn how to run the business.
Kahn told the man he had a friend who could sell him a Nandos franchise and got him to send a copy of a power bill for proof of his address.
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A few weeks later the man got a letter from Marac Finance and another from AA Finance. The letters outlined the two vehicles he had purchased and the instalment plan by which he would pay for them.
One vehicle was a 2007 Holden Commodore Club Sport that he'd apparently bought from a car yard for $40,497.04.
The other was a 2014 Toyota Hiace van that he'd apparently bought from a different car yard for $47,789.84.
The man confronted Kahn and asked what was going on. Kahn told him they were Kahn's cars.
A month later the man received sternly-worded letters informing him that the cars would be repossessed unless he started paying for them. So he engaged a lawyer to find out more information.
He discovered Kahn had taken out loans through emails and online applications by using his name, signature, an email address in his name, and a copy of his driver's licence.
The Holden was repossessed by Heartland bank from Kahn's address. The Toyota was repossessed by Police.
Kahn initially denied the allegations and said the victim had given him the vehicles.
He later changed his mind and appeared in Napier District Court on Wednesday to plead guilty to two charges of obtaining by deception.
After recovery and sale of the Holden there was a shortfall of $13,420, which is sought in reparation. Reparation sought for the Toyota is yet to be confirmed.
Kahn's lawyer Nigel Hewat said Kahn may be able to come up with a 'reasonably substantial down payment' towards reparation, and that Kahn was keen to go through a restorative justice process.
Judge Tony Adeane said it was quite sophisticated offending with a lot of money involved. He remanded Kahn on bail until next month for sentencing.