Worker convicted over fraudulent compensation payments
03 Sept 2024•BlueSafe Team•Source: WorkSafe VIC
Amin Dreik has been convicted, fined $10,000 and ordered to repay workers compensation after an investigation found he was working in his own business while receiving weekly payments.
Dreik, 50, pleaded guilty to one charge of fraudulently obtaining payments. He was sentenced at Frankston Magistrates' Court on Thursday 22 August, with the fine imposed alongside a restitution order.
The court heard Dreik started receiving workers compensation in February 2021 following a claim for a mental health injury caused by workplace bullying. He had been employed as a factory hand, yard worker and driver at a pool heating company.
His weekly payments continued until January 2022, when they were stopped after a WorkSafe investigation uncovered that he had been working for himself. During the payment period, Dreik kept signing certificates of capacity declaring that he had not undertaken employment or self-employment.
Bank records identified payments from several businesses into accounts in Dreik's name, with references to vehicles. Four witnesses gave evidence that they had paid him to detail vehicles.
The court also received a surveillance investigation report containing footage from December 2021. It showed Dreik cleaning the interior of a car after it arrived at his premises.
Return to Work Victoria Executive Director Jason Lardelli described fraud as relatively rare but deeply disappointing because it diverted resources from injured workers needing support.
"Workers compensation provides crucial support to people recovering from workplace injuries or illness and is such an important part of their recovery and return to work," Mr Lardelli said. "To deliberately deceive the system for personal gain is unacceptable and anyone who does this risks prosecution and serious penalties."