A lawsuit has been filed in Oshawa, Ontario, against a former Durham Regional Police detective, Robert Silipo, and five other defendants. The lawsuit alleges that Silipo, while still a police officer, collected pre-construction home deposits totaling $299,440 from five plaintiffs for what turned out to be a scam in 2022.
Text messages reviewed by CBC News reveal that Silipo arranged to meet two of the plaintiffs in a parking lot next to the police division in Oshawa to exchange paperwork for their home purchases. According to the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Alex Henderson, Silipo’s position as a police officer may have influenced the plaintiffs’ decision to trust him.
Silipo, through his lawyer, Domenic Saverino, denies any wrongdoing and claims to be a victim in this matter. The allegations against Silipo have not been proven in court, and he has not faced criminal charges.
The plaintiffs believed they were buying pre-construction homes at discounted prices from a legitimate developer, Paradise Developments. However, it was later revealed that the company they paid deposits to, “Paradise Development Homes Limited,” had no affiliation with the actual developer.
Another defendant in the lawsuit, Moiz Kunwar, has been charged with fraud and possession of property obtained by crime in connection to the alleged deposit scheme. The fraud bureau of Peel Regional Police is investigating further allegations against Kunwar.
Silipo’s defense argues that Kunwar requested him to act as a mediator with the plaintiffs and that his involvement was limited to administrative matters. Silipo also denies any wrongdoing and claims he relied on representations made by Kunwar.
The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Henderson, mentioned that the plaintiffs were not given Kunwar’s contact details until they raised concerns about the legitimacy of their agreements. Legal demand letters seeking the return of deposits were sent to Kunwar, Silipo, and Paradise Development Homes Limited.
The legitimate Paradise Developments confirmed that the similarly named company had misrepresented itself and had no authority to sell their homes. None of the plaintiffs have received their deposits back, causing significant distress to them.
The ongoing legal proceedings will determine the outcome of the allegations made against Silipo and the other defendants involved in the lawsuit.