Sports doctor pleads guilty to fraudulent ACC claims

A high profile sports doctor yesterday pleaded guilty in Christchurch District Court to making false Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) claims.

Neil Bryce Averis, 49, was the New Zealand team doctor at the touch rugby World Cup, works for the New Zealand Rugby Union and also helped at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the Christchurch Press reported.

Averis had pleaded guilty to a representative charge of making false ACC claims for consultations at the Christchurch Netball Centre.

Judge Gary MacAskill said although only a small selection of ACC claims was scrutinised by investigators, nearly a quarter were found to be fraudulent.

He said of the 46 claimants randomly selected, 11 claims were for consultations or procedures not carried out at all or provided by another practitioner. The fraud amounted to overpayments of $606.

Judge MacAskill said the court had to proceed on the basis there was no other criminal activity, but the relatively high percentage of fraudulent claims was of concern.

Averis was fined $1000, and Judge MacAskill also imposed court costs of $130 and a $1500 contribution towards the cost of prosecution.

- NZPA