Auckland man convicted for claiming ACC while working

19 April 2013

Tip-off sees Auckland man convicted for claiming ACC while working

A tip-off to ACC’s freephone fraud reporting line has led to the conviction of Auckland man Trevor John Siggleko for defrauding ACC.

The Papatoetoe resident was convicted in the Auckland District Court yesterday on five charges of dishonestly using documents, laid under Section 228 of the Crimes Act 1961.

Mr Siggleko was sentenced by Judge Harvey to 300 hours of community work, and he was also ordered to pay full reparation of the money he obtained fraudulently, totalling $13,223.93.

Mr Siggleko began receiving weekly compensation in February 2004 after injuring himself at work, and payments continued for almost the next seven years on the basis that Mr Siggleko was unfit for work.

However, the tip-off revealed that Mr Siggleko worked for four different employers during this period, undertaking both full-time and casual roles as a factory worker and general labourer.

Throughout the period of offending, Mr Siggleko continued to sign documents stating that he was unfit for work, and he failed to advise ACC he was working and receiving work-related earnings.

ACC’s General Manager of Claims Management, Sid Miller, says ACC relies on help from the public to identify people who are defrauding ACC.

“We appreciate the support we get from people who alert us to possible wrongdoing.

“ACC has an Investigations Unit which follows up all information we receive, to investigate where fraudulent activity may be involved and take appropriate action when criminal offending is identified.

“Kiwis pay ACC levies to help people with genuine injury-related needs – not so that people can misuse ACC for their own personal gain.”

ENDS

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