Man jailed over WorkCover fraud

A NOBLE PARK man was sentenced to a month in jail last week for a fraudulent $7200 WorkCover claim.
The Dandenong Magistrates’ Court heard that in 2004 Richard Gilling injured his lower back while working as a labourer with a scaffolding company.
Mr Gilling submitted a WorkCover claim which was accepted.
He was certified as being unfit for any duties and he formally declared that he was not engaging in any form of employment while receiving weekly workplace injury compensation payments.
Some months later, Gilling was seen working as a crowd controller at the Prince of Wales Hotel in St Kilda.
A WorkCover investigation found Gilling had worked 59 shifts over a four-month period in 2005, while at the same time receiving compensation payments.
Gilling pleaded guilty to one count of fraudulently obtaining payments and six counts of providing false information under the Accident Compensation Act 1985.
He was convicted and sentenced to one month’s jail.
These offences breached a suspended sentence previously imposed by the Court for driving while disqualified.
As a result, Gilling’s suspended sentence was restored and he was ordered to serve both concurrently.
Victorian WorkCover Authority executive director Len Boehm said identifying and prosecuting fraud cases helped protect honest workers, employers and service providers, and maintained the integrity of Victoria’s WorkCover scheme.
“This case is an eye-opening reminder of the consequences to be suffered as a result of dishonesty,” he said.
“Most workers are honest, but a case like this undermines community confidence and support in the WorkCover system.”