Man jailed for Working for Families fraud

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A Bay of Plenty man has been jailed for fraudulently claiming nearly $15,000 of Working for Families tax credits.

The court was told that Oryan Antonnio McLean received Working for Families tax credits from October 2005 to this year based on information that he was the primary caregiver for a younger brother.

However, Customs information later revealed the brother left McLean's care in November 2006.

McLean, 25, appeared in Opotiki District Court yesterday after earlier admitting four charges of tax evasion and was sentenced to five months' imprisonment.

He was also ordered to repay the $14,898 he took between 2007 and 2010.

"Anyone else claiming this sort of assistance when they're not entitled to should realise we will catch up with them," Inland Revenue investigations manager assurance Jonathan Matthews said.

- NZPA