A Victorian man who ran a car detailing business while receiving injury support payments has been fined for defrauding the state workers’ compensation scheme.

Amin Dreik was sentenced at Frankston Magistrates’ Court last month after pleading guilty to a single charge of fraudulently claiming $68,502.

He was ordered to repay the amount and fined $10,000.

The court heard Dreik began receiving payments in February 2021 after claiming for a mental health injury caused by bullying while working as a factory hand, yard worker and driver at a pool heating company.

The payments stopped in January 2022 after an investigation by workplace injury insurer WorkSafe revealed he had been running his business.

A surveillance report provided to the court included footage of Dreik cleaning a car interior after it arrived at his premises in December 2021, WorkSafe says.

While receiving the injury payouts, he signed certificates of capacity declaring he had not engaged in any form of employment or self-employment.

Bank records showed payments from businesses with references to vehicles, and four witnesses said they had paid him for vehicle detailing work.

“Workers’ compensation provides crucial support to people recovering from workplace injuries or illness and is such an important part of their recovery and return to work,” WorkSafe Return to Work Victoria executive director Jason Lardelli said.

“To deliberately deceive the system for personal gain is unacceptable and anyone who does this risks prosecution and serious penalties.”