ACC owes apology for forged form, says minister

A man whose initials were forged on an official form is owed an apology by the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), the minister responsible says.

An ACC case manager accused of forging a Palmerston North man's initials on an official form admitted more than six months ago that she may have been responsible.

However, no apology has been issued and Minister Ruth Dyson said this was unacceptable.

The claimant, known only as Malcolm, previously said he had not received an appropriate explanation for how his initials appeared on an interim rehabilitation plan (IRP) while he was in Australia in May last year.

ACC said in April that a "robust investigation" launched six months earlier had not been able to prove conclusively the source of the initials.

However, documents released under the Official Information Act since Malcolm came forward show his case manager admitted she may have "accidentally" put the initials there.

An internal ACC memo dated December 9 2004 between two senior managers states that the woman, whose name is deleted, "contacted the serious fraud and support manager to advise that there is a possibility that she may have accidentally written the initials on the document herself".

Memos and letters released also show a handwriting specialist with 12 years' experience had determined in November the initials were not Malcolm's.

Months later, ACC claimed not to know who put the initials on the IRP and told Malcolm's Wellington advocate that Malcolm himself might have done it.

ACC took no disciplinary action over the incident.

Ms Dyson said the corporation owed Malcolm an apology.

Speaking in Palmerston North after a meeting with senior citizens last week, Ms Dyson said she would be taking a close look at the case.

"This government's policy on staff fraud is one of zero tolerance," she said.

Asked to comment on the lack of an apology from ACC despite clear evidence the IRP initials were forged, Ms Dyson said: "That's not satisfactory. He deserves an explanation and an apology."

ACC could not be contacted directly to discuss whether an apology would be forthcoming.

- nzpa