A SUNSHINE West man was fined nearly $18,500 and ordered to perform 160 hours of community service after being convicted of fraud last week.
Ronald Burgess pleaded guilty to one charge of fraudulently obtaining worker’s compensation payments of $18,477 from WorkSafe and one charge of providing false information on 15 certificates of capacity.
Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge said Burgess deliberately rorted the workers’ compensation system and that had it not been for his lack of prior convictions he would have gone to jail.
WorkSafe’s enforcement group director Dave McQueen said a conviction for dishonesty offences was a significant penalty that could affect long-term prospects and have a serious effect on someone’s life.
“The 160 hours of unpaid community work – the equivalent of more than four weeks of full-time work – imposed by the court in this case means a lot of personal time will also be absorbed.”
Burgess, who admitted to having worked in several jobs while on benefits, has also been ordered to repay the $18,477.
