A former truck driver has been ordered to repay $114,262 after working as a commercial painter for almost three years while receiving workers’ compensation payments.

The 56-year-old from Victoria was sentenced last month after admitting a charge of fraudulently obtaining payments. He must also do 175 hours of unpaid community work.

WorkSafe executive director of integrity, risk and resilience Alicia Colley says it is disappointing to see the system exploited.  

“Making false declarations about the extent of an injury to receive compensation payments is a serious crime, particularly when the fraud is ongoing for several years,” Ms Colley said.

“These actions will not be tolerated and we owe it to the injured workers who depend on the compensation scheme every day to ensure it is not being abused for personal gain.”  

The truckie claimed for a lower back injury and began receiving weekly payments in September 2020.  

But surveillance later revealed he worked as a painter for two Melbourne businesses, starting in May 2021.

He submitted medical certificates declaring he had not worked since the injury, and he failed to disclose the jobs during seven medical checks and visits to three occupational rehabilitation providers.

His compensation was terminated in March last year.