Employees’ comp fraudster caught running own business returns $100,000
17 Might 2022
A Melbourne business supervisor has paid again $100,000 in overpayments to WorkSafe Victoria, after he was caught running his own consultancy in secret whereas nonetheless receiving advantages from the state’s staff’ compensation scheme.
WorkSafe says 41-year-old Dale Monk was sentenced within the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court docket after pleading responsible to 1 rolled-up cost of fraudulently acquiring staff’ compensation funds.
He was convicted and fined $10,000 along with the restitution quantity, WorkSafe says in an announcement in the present day.
The assertion says the courtroom heard he lodged a declare for psychological harm brought on by a bullying allegation in June 2019, and subsequently acquired $150,120 in help funds up till February final yr.
An investigation later discovered he had earned about $19,000 from a consultancy he was working in secret from November 2019 to September 2020, and through this time he continued to inform his physician he was not capable of work.
In one of many physician’s medical certificates issued in February 2020, he was assessed to be nonetheless build up his confidence and treating his nervousness however the subsequent day he commenced three days of consultations with a consumer, the courtroom heard.
WorkSafe Insurance coverage Business Unit Govt Director Roger Arnold says any offence towards the compensation system undermines public belief in it.
“Those that defraud the system for private acquire jeopardise the integrity of all the scheme,” Mr Arnold mentioned. “Any fraudulent behaviour can be met with very severe, legal penalties.”
