WA: Woman to apply for separate fraud trial from husband

AAP General News (Australia)
12-19-2006
WA: Woman to apply for separate fraud trial from husband

PERTH, Dec 19 AAP - A Perth woman accused of trying to commit a $1 million insurance
fraud with her husband will apply for a separate trial from her spouse, who is also fighting
criminal charges in India.

Kanchan Shivnani, 31, and her husband Pavan Shivnani, 35, of East Perth, are jointly
accused of attempting to claim a $1 million insurance policy by falsely declaring his
mother had died.

Mr Shivnani allegedly took out a life insurance policy with Norwich Union Australia
on his mother's behalf in August 2003, naming himself as the sole beneficiary.

His wife allegedly faxed the company in July 2004, telling them her mother-in-law had
died at her home in India, to try to cash in the $1 million policy.

During a subsequent investigation, the company found the mother was still alive.

A trial date was to be set today in the West Australian District Court but that had
to be delayed because Mr Shivnani is still in India.

Lawyers for Mrs Shivnani today indicated she will apply to be tried separately.

She will be back in the same court on February 1.

Earlier this year, Mr Shivnani was granted leave to travel to India to gather evidence
for his defence and to visit his sister, who he claimed was gravely ill.

But Mr Shivnani is now facing criminal proceedings in India resulting from a road traffic
incident and has had his passport confiscated.

Bench warrants have been issued in both the WA District Court and the Perth Magistrates
Court but Mr Shivnani is appealing both.

AAP np/ag/goc/de

KEYWORD: SHIVNANI

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