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The OPP, working with the Sûreté du Québec, have laid fraud charges against several people following a two-year investigation into commercial driving school operators.
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In March 2019, the Sûreté du Québec told the OPP of suspected fraudulent commercial motor vehicle licensing activities, which led to a criminal investigation.
The investigation allegedly found fraudulent licensing activities that circumvented the processes of the Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Colleges and Universities.
The OPP’s investigation allegedly found the scheme was significantly impacting the safety of Canadian highways by using an interpreter to fraudulently complete required licensing knowledge tests, permitting non-Ontario residents applying for an Ontario driver’s licence, and circumventing the Mandatory Entry Level Training standard.
Police found 200 cases in which students allegedly committed fraud to acquire a commercial vehicle licence.
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Another scheme that was uncovered involved individuals operating unlicensed schools and delivering unauthorized training to students in Ontario and Quebec.
Gurvinder Singh, 55, of Laval, Que., Gurpreeet Singh, 33, of Saint Eustache, Que., Mohammad Khokhar, 66, of Cornwall, Ont., Jagjeet Deol, 50, of Caledon, Ont., Charanjit Kaur Deol, 50, of Caledon, Ont., and Hanifa Khokhar, 68, of Cornwall, Ont., have all been charged with fraud over $5,000.
“The focus of this lengthy investigation has been public safety,” said Det. Insp. Daniel Nadeau, with the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch. “Tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles can be deadly in the hands of those with little or unapproved training.”
