NSW’s State Insurance Regulatory Authority has successfully prosecuted a man for defrauding the compulsory third party scheme of more than $135,000.

Issa Abid pleaded guilty to dishonestly obtaining payments by deception and was sentenced at the Downing Centre Local Court to 12 months’ imprisonment, to be served in the community via an intensive correction order.

He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of $12,620 and submit fingerprints to police. The fraudulently obtained funds had been repaid by Abid before sentencing.

SIRA says an investigation found Abid submitted 33 false certificates and declarations to a CTP insurer, claiming unemployment to receive weekly loss-of-income benefits totalling $135,166 over two and a half years. The regulator says he remained employed throughout.

“The prosecution sends a clear message that undermining the sustainability and fairness of the CTP scheme designed to provide financial support to those genuinely injured in a motor crash will not be tolerated,” SIRA said.

“SIRA welcomes the outcome, which emphasises the importance of deterrence in fraud cases involving publicly funded schemes where costs are ultimately borne by road users through insurance premiums.

“The scheme depends upon honesty and trust to operate effectively.”