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Truck driver in injury compensation fraud guilty plea

WorkSafe Victoria investigation led to prosecution

 

A truck driver has pleaded guilty to charges including providing false information and fraudulently obtaining payment after working while receiving injury compensation payments.

He was found in contravention of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 at the Kyneton Magistrates’ Court in Victoria.

The offender, 34-year-old Brett Watts, was employed as a truck driver in Warrnambool.

“In December 2017 he lodged a claim for a rib injury,” WorkSafe Victoria explains.

“The claim was accepted and he commenced receiving weekly payments of compensation.

“In May 2018 WorkSafe received an allegation that the offender had been working elsewhere while receiving payments.


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“WorkSafe’s investigation revealed that the offender had been employed as an interstate truck driver and between 3 April and 8 May 2018 had completed six return trips from Melbourne to Adelaide for each of which he was paid $450 cash.

“The offender failed to disclose to his GP, the WorkSafe agent and an occupational physician that he had returned to work.”

WorkSafe notes the offender pleaded guilty to: fraudulently obtaining payment; making a false declaration; and three counts of providing false information.

No conviction was recorded by he was sentenced to pay a fine of $900 and re-pay $8,261.

 

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