Netball star has court win but World Cup spot now in jeopardy after guilty plea
A member of the Australian men’s indoor netball team funnelled more than $110,000 intended for workers compensation victims into his own pocket.
Police & Courts
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A member of the Australian men’s indoor netball team funnelled more than $110,000 intended for workers compensation victims into his own pocket, to fund a trip to Las Vegas and his gambling addiction.
Peter Jermaine Campbell, 31, is due to represent the nation at the Indoor Netball World Cup next month, but on Tuesday found himself in the Downing Centre Local Court pleading guilty to cyphoning a total of $113,826.89 over his time working for insurance giant Employers Mutual Limited (EML).
The court heard Campbell’s scheme involved him making extra payments into his own bank account, after an individual had received their final instalment of injury compensation payout through EML.
In total Campbell made 57 payments to himself between November 2021 and July 2022.
It eventually came unstuck in April 2023 when NSW Police charged him with dishonestly obtain financial advantage deception.
His solicitor Abdul Saddik told the court that while an inside job to steal that much money from an insurer may seem like it requires a “sophisticated” plan, Campbell’s efforts were far anything but.
“At the end of the injured persons claim … he then leaves eight injured persons’ files open at certain times and he would make extra claims,” Mr Saddik explained.
“While it may at face value seem to be sophisticated, it is not sophisticated at all.
“His level of sophistication was to such a low extent it wasn’t even a sophisticated enough to the point that an audit automatically identified that there was the same bank account having the money sent out to it (in different people’s names).”
Mr Saddik explained that Campbell, who was born in New Zealand, had spent some of the money he stole on a trip to Las Vegas, UberEats and also on funding his gambling addiction.
But he said one of the biggest impacts of his offending could be his place in the national team at the Indoor Netball World Cup, which is now in jeopardy.
“He is a key player for the Australia mens netball team and is scheduled to go to the international world cup in Brisbane in August,” Mr Saddik said.
“His actions while working at EML do not represent Australia or its values. He was motivated by need and greed.
“He’ll have to disclose it (his court appearance) to Netball Australia and whether he continues to play is a matter for them … there is a very high chance he’ll be stripped of his position in that team.”
Magistrate Michelle Goodwin said she accepted Campbell had been a “good, hard working young man”, up until this incident.
“It is a terrible thing to be placed in a position of trust and to exploit that trust,” Magistrate Goodwin said.
“You had an opportunity and you took it.”
Magistrate Goodwin said while no injured persons were ripped off by Campbell, that his actions could have resulted in a diminishing of the “pool” of funds available to “people who are very deserving of assistance”.
In sentencing him to a three-year community corrections order, which includes 200 hours of community service, she warned Campbell that if he reoffended he would likely end up in jail.
“I am prepared to give you an opportunity to remain in the community. If you come back before the court you will go into full time custody,” Magistrate Goodwin said.
Campbell also consented to paying back $100,000 in compensation to EML.
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