A Canterbury tax agent has been ordered to do 200 hours community service after trying to defraud the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) of more than $20,000.
Margaret Churchman-Watson was found guilty in Christchurch District Court on August 1, on three charges of misleading ACC between August 2003 and July 2004.
Churchman-Watson was a tax agent for Two Thick-Bricks Professional Bricklaying Company Ltd and filed false ACC claims relating to employees, a spokeswoman for ACC said.
ACC chief operating officer Gerard McGreevy said ACC had a zero tolerance policy to fraud and was trying to recover the money.
"The money we pay in replacement income to injured people is funded by levies charged to New Zealanders, so we need to ensure that it is going to injured people, who are genuinely unable to work."
Mr McGreevy said it was unfortunate people still tried to defraud ACC by claiming income replacement while working.
