Mandeep Singh WorkSafe fraud: Former Pacific Meat Sales employee rorted $18k

A conniving courier has been stopped in his tracks after a three year scam saw him suck thousands of dollars from WorkSafe.

A man has been fined after falsely claiming more than $18,000 in workers’ compensation payments. Picture: Generic

A conniving courier who ran a business while claiming more than $18k in compensation payments from WorkSafe has been fined.

Mandeep Singh was ordered to pay back $18,404 in the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to fraudulently obtaining payments.

The bust came after Singh was caught out running his own courier business in August 2019 while still claiming compensation for ankle and back injuries he sustained while working at Thomastown’s Pacific Meat Sales in September 2016.

Singh earned more than $26,000 until the fraud was uncovered, repeatedly failing to declare his work and receiving $18,404 in compensation during that time.

WorkSafe insurance business unit executive director Roger Arnold said the workers’ compensation scheme was established to give injured workers the support and treatment they need to get well and return to work.

“The vast majority of injured workers are doing the right thing, but it’s disappointing that a small minority think they can cheat the system,” he said.

“Those who try to defraud the system for their own benefit will be held to account.”

Singh was convicted and fined $1200 and ordered to pay costs of $1742.