Inside Information: Ottawa police officers charged in towing industry corruption investigation

Ottawa, Ontario ⁠— Three Ottawa police constables are facing charges stemming from an RCMP investigation into accusations they sold information about collisions to tow truck operators.

Constable Hussein Assaad, 44, Constable Kevin Putinski, 32 and Constable Andrew Chronopoulos, 38, have each been charged by the RCMP’s anti-corruption unit with breach of trust and secret commissions⁠—a charge under the fraud section of the Criminal Code involving kickback benefits.

Three other people are also charged in the RCMP investigation: Jason Ishraki, 33, Veronika Ishraki, 56, and Marwan Sablani, 49. Jason Ishraki, the owner of Ottawa United Towing is charged with obtaining access to confidential police databases, fraud under $5,000 and secret commissions. Veronika Ishraki is charged with secret commissions, and Sablani with conspiracy to commit break and enter and theft.

According to a source from an Ottawa collision centre, the corruption matter has been ongoing since the early 1970s.

A news release issued on Thursday morning, RCMP said the Ottawa Police Services (OPS) asked investigators to look into the matter in July 2019. 

“The RCMP conducted a thorough investigation over 10 months,” said the OPS in an online statement. “That investigation has now resulted in criminal charges against three members of our Service as well as three members of the public.  The criminal investigation is ongoing by the RCMP, which remains the lead agency.”

“These allegations against three of our members will likely shake the trust and confidence that OPS members have worked long and hard to earn with the public,” said OPS Chief Pete Sloly.

Sloly, who took over the force in October as the investigation was ongoing, issued a statement that called the allegations “very serious.”

Mark Graves, president of the Provincial Towing Association of Ontario (PTAO) has been pushing for the tow truck industry to be licensed provincially. He says having standards in place will protect both tow truck drivers and motorists.

“[Licensing] makes sure the consumer is getting quality work and it makes everyone understand we’re playing on an even playing field,” he said.