An Australian dock worker was found guilty of workers compensation fraud after a WorkCover investigation found that he had lied about working up to 50 hours a week as a security guard while being too injured to carry out his first job, according to a report from Work Cover Authority of New South Wales.
Ronald Perrine, a 46-year-old store man from Welby, west of Wollongong, received a suspended jail sentence, was ordered to repay almost $20,000, and was fined $1500. Perrine alleged that in September 2000 his left wrist had become too damaged to continue working after repeatedly driving a forklift. His employer accepted his claims and Perrine began receiving weekly compensation totaling $19,059.05 from August 2004 to April 2007. During this time, Perrine took on a second job as a security guard and was receiving cash payments in envelopes. (WCxKit)
The WorkCover investigation found Perrine had been dishonest on numerous occasions in deliberately misleading representatives acting to protect the Workers Compensation Scheme. Perrine said he was working around 12-16 hours a week when he was in fact working around 50 hours and not informing WorkCover. His pay slips and group certificate did not reflect the true income he was receiving from his second job. These had the effect of pushing the compensation payments he was receiving through the Workers Compensation Fund.
WorkCover staff requested to interview Perrine during the investigation however the requests were declined. Perrine was prosecuted for offenses under the Crimes Act 1900.
The Court sentenced him to an eight month jail term, fully-suspended, and a 6-month good behavior bond. (WCxKit)
In addition, he was ordered to repay the $19,059.05 he had fraudulently received in compensation, fined him $1,500, and ordered to pay WorkCover’s legal costs.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: [email protected].
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