Guilty of false TAC claims
A GEELONG real estate agent has been found guilty of providing false information to the Transport Accident Commission.
Robert Fabretto, a licensed agent working for Benlor Real Estate in Geelong West, was convicted and fined $4000 at Sunshine Magistrates’ Court last Tuesday.
The 25-year industry veteran was sentenced after being found guilty following a contested hearing. The TAC confirmed the verdict but a spokeswoman said it was unable to provide further details about the offending.
Fabretto told the Geelong Advertiser the case related to a medical certificate of capacity that he regularly gave to the TAC following a major car accident about two years ago.
He said there was a discrepancy in the paperwork falsely indicating he was not working up to three hours each week while receiving benefits from the TAC.
Fabretto blamed a doctor for incorrectly filling out the document, which he said he signed without properly reading. “It’s like you hire a car from the airport. They give you the document to sign, do you read every section of it?” he said.
“You assume they fill out the document correctly.”
Fabretto said he “100 per cent” believed he had done nothing wrong, accusing the TAC of being aware that he had been working before they laid charges against him.
“They knew I was working two to three hours per week, but because the doctor didn’t fill out the forms correctly in the right paragraphs, and because I go ahead and sign them … it led me to this situation,” he said.
Despite maintaining his innocence, Fabretto told the Addy he was not planning to appeal the guilty verdict.
The father-of-three said he was no longer receiving benefits from the TAC.
Although a conviction was recorded, it will not trigger an automatic suspension or cancellation of his real estate licence because the maximum penalty falls below a threshold set by Consumer Affairs Victoria.
Benlor Real Estate has offices on Pakington St, Geelong West, and in Werribee.
The family business has been operating for more than 60 years and was founded by Fabretto’s father, Benny Fabretto.
Robert Fabretto has served as a director while his brother, Ben Fabretto, is the agency’s chief executive.