Worker fined $75,000 for workers compensation fraud

A man who continued to work as a cleaner and an escort while receiving workers compensation payments for a back injury has been ordered to repay almost $75,000. Angus Dick, 45, pleaded guilty to a single charge of fraudulently obtaining payments by deception. He was convicted and placed on an 18-month Community Corrections Order with 200 hours of unpaid community work.

Dick reportedly received a total of $74,744 in weekly compensation payments between April 2020 and December 2021, after making a claim for a back injury sustained while working as a cooling system service technician. An investigation by WorkSafe Victoria found Dick was paid by numerous clients for escort services during this time and had also worked as a cleaner for a hotel, a construction company and a resort between July and December 2021.

Dick failed to declare any of the work activity and continued to submit certificates of capacity stating that he had not worked throughout the time he received payments. WorkSafe Executive Director Insurance Roger Arnold said there is no excuse for trying to play the system for personal gain.

“Failing to declare work while continuing to receive compensation payments is fraud, plain and simple. This is a serious crime and anyone trying to take advantage of the workers compensation scheme for their own profit will face serious consequences,” Arnold said.

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