Number of fraud cases drops

FOLLOW UP: ACC Minister Nikki Kaye says it is important ACC follow up information that suggests possible fraudulent activity to ensure people are receiving correct entitlements and identify possible fraud.

ACC has spent more than $80,000 investigating 108 Western Bay of Plenty clients since 2012. This did not include investigation by ACC employees.

The number of investigations in each year has decreased. There were 44 investigations in 2012 at a cost of $11,192 and 14 investigations last year costing $18,903.

In the year to June, there had been 12 investigations.

ACC senior media adviser Stephanie Melville said ACC could not provide information about the measures used to investigate clients.

"It would be inappropriate to do so as it would prejudice the maintenance of the law, including the prevention, investigation and detection of offences, and the right to a fair trial."

When a complaint was received, ACC first screened it to determine whether the allegation was appropriate or if there were any factors to impede progress on an investigation. It then gathered and analysed information to assess the validity of the allegation and determine further action. An investigation was then carried out to prove or disprove allegations.

ACC Minister Nikki Kaye said it was important ACC followed up information that suggested possible fraudulent activity to ensure people were receiving correct entitlements and identify possible fraud.

"New Zealanders pay ACC levies to help those with genuine injury-related needs, and the cost of fraudulent claims impacts on the levies we all pay. By reducing instances of fraud against ACC, levies fund help for those with genuine needs, so they can receive the help they're entitled to."

A number of ACC investigations have been published in the Bay of Plenty Times.

In November 2013, Diane Ruth MacDonald was sentenced to 150 hours of community work for historical offences against ACC including nine charges of dishonestly using a document and five charges of failing to declare income.

In September 2012, Rocklin Stewart Cuthbert was jailed for three years for defrauding ACC of more than $200,000.