ICBC adjuster charged

A North Vancouver ICBC claims adjuster has been charged with defrauding and stealing from the Crown corporation.

Paul Martin Punter, 30, faces four charges of defrauding and stealing from the insurance company by making cheques drawn on Insurance Corporation of British Columbia accounts over a two-year period, from August 2017 to August 2019.

ICBC has not said how much money went missing in total.

According to a statement from the corporation, “ICBC has been able to recover the vast majority of funds, and we can assure ratepayers they will not be responsible for covering any loss.”

The corporation added it has taken the matter very seriously.

“We took immediate action in notifying police as soon as the situation was uncovered and have been actively working with the RCMP as they investigated,” ICBC said.

Following a bail hearing in North Vancouver provincial court this week, Punter has been released on bail, with conditions that he must turn over his passport and any other travel documents, must not possess any identification documents, cheques or mail in anyone else’s name, and must not possess any cards that contain someone else’s data.

Before seeking employment or volunteering in any capacity that involves dealing with property or money of another person or corporation, Punter must inform them of the charges, under the bail conditions.

Punter is set to make another appearance in court at the end of February.