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ACC Compensation for Sex Abuse - Index

 

2003 Index 

 




The Dominion Post
October 22, 2003

ACC may not chase false sex payouts
by Leah Haines


People paid compensation for sexual abuse may not have to refund it if they later recant.

ACC confirmed yesterday that it would definitely pursue people who had lied about being sexually abused to get ACC payouts.

But those thinking they had been abused who later realised they had not would not necessarily have to refund the money. However, their compensation could be stopped.

ACC is waiting for Justin Todd Richardson to be sentenced for falsely accusing Catholic brothers at Christchurch's Marylands School of abusing him. It could review any ACC compensation paid to him on the understanding that he was abused at the school.

Richardson, one of 70 men saying they were abused there, got $100,000 from the school and an unknown amount from ACC.

National Party welfare spokeswoman Katherine Rich asked ACC Minister Ruth Dyson this week if people who mistakenly believed they had been abused could recant without fear of financial punishment.

She asked Ms Dyson if any children who got compensation for being sexually abused at the Christchurch Civic Creche had told ACC they no longer thought they had been abused. One girl is known to have recanted.

Ms Dyson said ACC was not aware of anyone else recanting. But if they did, the case would be investigated. Any compensation they were getting could be discontinued.

ACC risk and assurance manager Ernest Le Roux said deciding to prosecute someone came down to whether they intended to defraud the corporation. If it was an honest mistake ACC would decide whether to seek repayment based on the person's circumstances.

"If for instance, a person was in deep debt, as a government agency we would not look to drive them deeper into their debt."

ACC has been criticised for paying out for sexual abuse without requiring the victim to name the abuser or lay a criminal complaint.

It pays for counselling and medical expenses for sex abuse victims.