Prague - Three police officers and two civilians have been arrested for staging fake car crashes in order to claim insurance payments.

By orchestrating fake accidents they "earned" CZK 1.9 million (EUR 80 thousand) before they were detected by the Interior Ministry's Inspection Office that is authorized to investigate delicts committed by policemen.

Fake accidents and car robberies

"In March this year, the Inspection Office began to investigate and monitor illegal activities of the suspects. They registered nine cases of insurance frauds. The suspects have been staging fake accidents or car robberies across the Czech Republic in order to claim insurance benefits," spokeswoman of Inspection Office Martina Lídlová said.

Lídlová added that the suspects always chose more expensive cars - Audi, Volkswagen and Škoda.

Two traffic policemen from Prague and one police officer from Průhonice, a municipality near the capital city, assisted by two civilians, now face a charge with fraud.