19 November 2010

Shearer Found Guilty of Fleecing ACC

A Christchurch shearer has been sentenced to 300 hours of community service and ordered to pay back more than $37,000 in ACC payments.

Grant Turner, 56, worked in 2008 and 2009 while receiving weekly compensation for lost earnings as a result of a back injury.

He submitted nine medical certificates stating he was unfit to work, and misled ACC staff and medical practitioners evaluating his condition. However, ACC’s investigation team discovered that he had been working for various shearing gangs.

He also told ACC he was visiting friends in Alexandra when he was in Australia.

Turner pleaded guilty in the Christchurch District Court on 17 November to nine charges of dishonestly using a document.

In passing sentence Judge Neave noted Turner’s offending impacted on the whole community and had undermined the ACC system. He said Turner had escaped prison only because he had pleaded guilty and returned from Australia to face the charges.

"ACC funds are meant to help injured New Zealanders, not fraudsters,” said ACC General Manager Claims Management, Denise Cosgrove.

“We welcome this finding and would encourage anyone who suspects ACC fraud to call us on 0508 ACC FRAUD".

ACC has recently begun a regional anti-fraud campaign in Southland.

ENDS

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