Robert Rentsch ordered to pay back almost $111k after false compensation claims
The case of a Warrnambool machine operator caught fraudulently obtaining worker’s compensation payments has prompted a stern WorkSafe warning. Read why.
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A Warrnambool man who fraudulently obtained more than $110,000 in worker’s compensation has been ordered to pay back the money after he was caught defrauding the state’s worker’s compensation scheme.
Robert Rentsch, 67, appeared at the Warrnambool Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where he admitted to fraudulently obtaining payments.
The machine operator was granted almost $111,000 in compensation payments between February 2017 and April 2019 after he lodged a claim for a crush injury he suffered to both of his feet.
However the court heard an investigation revealed Rentsch continued to work while receiving the payments and earned more than $190,000 through his business.
This included farm maintenance work and travelling to NSW where he used a tractor and stonecrusher.
The court heard that during this period Rentsch continued to tell his doctor he was not working and so was issued with medical certificates of capacity stating he was unable to work.
On Thursday he was convicted and ordered to pay back the restitution amount.
He was also sentenced to a 24-month community corrections order and ordered to complete 240 hours of community service work.
WorkSafe Insurance Business Unit executive director Roger Arnold said any offence against the compensation system would be met with “serious consequences”.
“People who defraud the WorkSafe compensation scheme for their own personal gain take money and resources away from injured workers in legitimate need,” Mr Arnold said.
“This fraudulent behaviour threatens the integrity of the entire scheme and WorkSafe won't hesitate to prosecute anyone who seeks to game the system for their own profit.”
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