A NSW man who submitted fake certificates of capacity to continue receiving workers’ compensation benefits has been convicted and ordered to pay restitution of $7795.20 and prosecutor’s fees of $6185.78.

The State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) says its investigation found Mark Crellin of St Marys lodged the fraudulent certificates of capacity between October 30 2019 and January 16 2020, enabling him to receive the $7,795.20 payment that he was not entitled to.

SIRA says he started getting weekly payments from the workers’ compensation scheme from August 16 2019, after he was injured at work on or around August 6.

The regulator prosecuted him on a charge of fraud under section 192E of the Crimes Act 1900 following the investigation.

He pleaded guilty to the charge in March and the court order was imposed the following month at the Downing Centre Local Court.

He was also served a community corrections order for a period of 12 months without a supervision condition. He has the right to appeal the court’s decision.

“This worker wilfully defrauded the system that is there to provide a social safety net for people injured at work,” SIRA CEO Adam Dent said.

“SIRA will investigate and prosecute allegations of fraud against the NSW workers compensation system to send a clear message of deterrence to the perpetrators.”