Fraud of millions in fake addresses: Refugee arrested in Canada

 

 

A 45-year-old illegal immigrant has been arrested in a case of embezzling more than $1.8 million in financial assistance from the Quebec government using fake addresses and documents. Omar Ndia, a native of Senegal, was taken into custody by Montreal police on charges including forgery and fraud. The prosecution told the court that he submitted about 55 fake applications between March 2024 and this past August, defrauding the Ministry of Social Welfare and receiving money from 37 applications.

Although the financial assistance applications were made under different names, the similarity in the images submitted in all these applications led to the discovery of the fraud. Police also obtained CCTV footage of withdrawing money using other people's bank cards and receiving letters from mailboxes with strangers' addresses. In addition, police found more than 140 letters from the government and banks, as well as a fake Congolese passport with Ndiaye's picture in the rented house where he previously lived.

The prosecution strongly argued in court that the defendant should not be granted bail until the trial is completed. Judge Sonia Maestro Mateo accepted the argument that he was likely to leave the country because he was living under fake addresses. However, Ndiaye told the court that he would not leave the country and that "living in Canada is his big dream." The man, who was currently working as a dishwasher in Canada without legal status, could face up to five years in prison if convicted. The case will be heard again in October.