Work and Income is investigating a sickness beneficiary who is to fight All Blacks midfielder Sonny Bill Williams in a charity boxing match.
Alipate Liava'a, 43, who was expected to earn $6000 for the fight, has been claiming a sickness benefit for an injured elbow, 3 News reported.
Work and Income has stopped payments to Liava'a.
Liava'a says a case of tennis elbow means he can't work, but the injury isn't bad enough to stop him getting in the boxing ring with Williams this Sunday.
Williams will make enough to donate $100,000 to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.
Work and Income said it began investigating Liava'a last week when it found out he was taking part in the fight.
Oh dear; that's the kind of publicity that Sonny Bill, his manager Khoder Nasser and his main man Anthony "the Man" Mundine would have preferred to avoid. The fight has been hyped up to be something that it probably isn't, and frankly we'd be astounded if SBW didn't win easily.
And whilst Liava'a will be well remunerated to get in the ring with Williams on Sunday, he's probably regretting all the publicity.
Suffice to say, we won't be shelling out our hard-earned loot to buy Sunday's fight; we get into enough strife here already, without opening ourselves to accusations of aiding and abetting cruelty to beneficiaries!
5 comments:
Well spotted.
More corrupt sportspeople.
Don't you tire of it Inv2?
I wouldn't call SBW corrupt (to his face!) Robr, but nor would I lend his manager $10.00.
As for his opponent on Sunday; probably the less said the better.
RG - why is SBW corrupt?
He does not select his opponents. They hand picked to ensure he gets the right result as is the case with most boxers looking to make a name for himself.
However, his opponent may be in a bit of strife especially as it is likely that he has been `double dipping' on a few previous occasions.
He got the sickie benefit for a dodgy voice and a sore elbow. Goes to show there is plenty of scope for cutbacks Ms Bennett.
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