11 March 2014

Home detention for Wainuiomata woman who defrauds ACC of over $209k

Wainuiomata woman Matekino Kine Chambers, aged 63, was sentenced to eleven months home detention in the Lower Hutt District Court yesterday for defrauding ACC of over $209,000.

Chambers was convicted of eight charges of using a document for pecuniary advantage, after she repeatedly misled ACC about her relationship status, to claim weekly compensation intended for the single surviving spouse of a person who died as a result of injury.

This type of compensation is payable until age 65, or until the recipient changes their marital status, eg they remarry or enter a de facto relationship.

An ACC investigation revealed that Chambers entered a de facto relationship in 1998, but she continued to sign declarations stating that there had been no change in her situation.

As a result of the investigation, payments were stopped on 1 November 2012, by which time Chambers had received $209,915.66 to which she wasn’t entitled.

Chambers admitted she had been living with a new partner during a December 2012 meeting with ACC staff.

ACC’s General Manager of Claims Management, Sid Miller, says it is always disappointing when people choose to abuse the ACC Scheme for financial gain.

“ACC collects levies to help people with genuine injury-related needs. Ms Chambers’ offending therefore amounts to theft from honest, hard-working New Zealanders.”

Mr Miller adds that “ACC has a dedicated Investigations Unit, which follows up all tip-offs received about possible fraud. The unit is committed to ensuring appropriate action is taken when anyone is found to be defrauding ACC.”

ENDS

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