Greymouth Man Sentenced After Pleading Guilty To Defrauding ACC

Nigel Ross Hipson, aged 38 years, of Ruanga, Greymouth, was sentenced to 400 hours of community service in the Greymouth District Court on Tuesday for defrauding ACC.

He was also ordered by Judge Garland to repay the $19,161.92 he obtained fraudulently from ACC, by claiming weekly compensation while he was in employment.

Mr Hipson pleaded guilty to two representative charges of misusing a document under the Crimes Act, and four charges of wilful omission and failing to provide earnings information under the Accident Compensation Act.

Mr Hipson’s offending related to two separate periods when he worked while receiving weekly compensation. The entitlement, paid for injury-related loss of earnings, was originally granted after Mr Hipson suffered a hernia in October 2000, and continued after he injured his arm in February 2001.

Between November 2006 and July 2007, Mr Hipson was in continuous employment as a labourer with a construction company. He worked intermittently for the same company again later in 2007 and early in 2008.

From May 2010, Mr Hipson commenced new employment as a labourer with a manufacturing company. After ACC received information that Mr Hipson was working in this role, his weekly compensation was stopped in December 2010.

Throughout both periods of employment, Mr Hipson did not tell ACC that he was working, despite signing numerous declarations that he was aware of his obligation to do so.

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. Mr Hipson’s 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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