Truckie convicted for workers compensation fraud

A truck driver from Gippsland in eastern Victoria was convicted and faces the possibility of four months in jail, after pleading guilty to fraudulently obtaining over $31,000 in workers compensation payments and for providing false information.

The Ringwood Magistrates' Court heard that James Nolan was working as a casual truck driver with a transport company in 2007 when he suffered an injury to his back at work and attended hospital. His claim for workers compensation was accepted and he formally declared that he was not engaging in any form of employment while receiving weekly compensation payments.

Evidence revealed, however, that, while in receipt of compensation payments during 2007 and 2008, Nolan had worked as a full-time truck driver or casual, part-time truck driver for a number of businesses.

Nolan pleaded guilty to one charge of fraudulently obtaining payments and one charge of providing false information on 12 certificates of capacity. He was convicted and ordered to repay the $31,344.72 in compensation he obtained fraudulently and sentenced to four months' jail, to commence if he commits any further offences in the next year.

WorkSafe Executive Director Len Boehm said WorkSafe will not support fraudulent behaviour that attempts to take advantage of the system: “We will identify and prosecute those who deceive the system, in order to protect honest workers and employers.”