A Lynbrook business manager has been convicted and placed on a Community Corrections Order after dishonestly claiming $114,952 in workers’ compensation payments while secretly working a full-time job.
The Lynbrook man, 57, was sentenced in the Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 20 February after pleading guilty to a single charge of fraudulently obtaining payments, and a single charge of providing false or misleading information.
He was convicted and placed on an 18-month Community Corrections Order with a condition to perform 180 hours of unpaid community work.
The court heard that in April 2021, the man slipped and fell while working for a plant hire company, injuring his leg, shoulder and lower back.
His injury claim was accepted in June 2021, but he continued working while submitting suitable employment certificates until May 2022, when he underwent surgery.
He did not return to work after the surgery and started receiving weekly payments when he formally resigned in June 2022 and began submitting medical certificates stating that he had no capacity for employment.
However, a WorkSafe investigation later found that in the same month, the man had started a new role as a business manager for a rail freight business, earning a $200,000 annual salary.
On 11 of the 13 medical certificates submitted since resigning, the man falsely declared that he was not engaged in any employment.
While receiving the payments, the man was asked on three separate occasions about his employment status and each time falsely stated that he was not working.
His weekly compensation payments were terminated in April 2023 on grounds of fraud.
He has since paid back the full restitution amount of $114,952.
Return to Work Victoria Executive Director Jason Lardelli said the case exposed an attempt to exploit Victoria’s workers compensation system for personal gain.
“It’s really disappointing to see when someone knowingly accepts workers compensation payments while already earning a full-time salary,” Mr Lardelli said.
“Not only is it a crime, it’s a breach of community trust to those who genuinely rely on the scheme while they can’t work.”
“WorkSafe has stepped up monitoring and compliance checks. Those who behave in this way will be caught, and they will face the full consequences of their actions.”
