Manitoba public insurance now has athority
 

MPI wins $110,000 in damages

Wed Feb 21 2007

By Mike McIntyre
ONE of Winnipeg's most prolific car thieves has been ordered to repay Manitoba Public Insurance nearly $110,000 in damages, one of the largest judgments of its kind.

The 18-year-old man -- who can't be named because the lawsuit deals with youth offences -- now faces a future where every cent he legally earns can become property of provincial taxpayers.

"This is going to follow him around like a dark cloud," MPI spokesman Brian Smiley told the Free Press Tuesday. MPI now has the power to seize property and garnish any income -- even, for example, lottery winnings -- and can also withhold a driver's licence until a payment plan is worked out.

MPI filed the lawsuit against the young man following one of the worst property crime sprees in recent Winnipeg history.

In the span of a few weeks beginning in late 2004, the then 16-year-old and several younger co-accused were responsible for stealing five cars -- three of which were written off -- and damaging 38 others, including a police car that was destroyed in a high-speed crash.

They also sent one car smashing through the window of an empty River Heights apartment block by pinning down the accelerator with a brick -- an incident the building realtor described as an act of "terrorism".

First crime spree / judgment:

Teen ordered to pay $30,216.21 plus interest of $2,195.30 and $647 costs for total of $33,058.51 plus 5 per cent yearly interest.


Second crime spree / judgment

The teen was ordered to pay $59,879.58 plus interest of $4,350.92 and $842 court costs for total of $65.072.50 plus 5 per cent interest yearly.


THIRD CRIME SPREE / JUDGMENT:

The teen was ordered to pay $9,781.48 plus interest of $804.64 and $347 costs for total of $10.933.12 plus 5 per cent interest yearly.

Restitution is one of the best forms of punishment IMO.

damn :shock: