A 26-year-old former Nationals member is facing a fresh set of charges after a police investigation uncovered alleged fraudulent behaviour following his attest over the death of a Katanning teacher.
Benjamin Thomas Simpkins is alleged to have hit Luke Russell, 49, in his car on May 13 leaving him for dead on the side of the road.
Police alleged the 26-year-old was on his way to work to Gnowangerup from Katanning when he hit Russell before driving away without stopping to help or call emergency services.
He was charged with failing to stop and ensure assistance received after incident occasioning death, being the driver involved in an incident occasioning death/grievous bodily harm failed to report incident to WA Police, and no authority to drive – suspended.
Now he’s facing new charges unrelated to Russell’s death after police looked further into his past, allegedly discovering that he falsely claimed to hold a university degree and other qualifications.
“Police will allege he used falsified academic records to obtain employment in June 2023 as a cardiac scientific officer at a Western Australian hospital,” a WA police spokesperson said.
“He also allegedly provided false information regarding his volunteer work within the local community.”
A cardiac scientific officer is a specialised healthcare professional who performs diagnostic tests, monitors heart function, and assists cardiologists during invasive and non-invasive cardiovascular procedures. They evaluate electrical patterns, measure blood pressures inside the heart, and manage implantable cardiac devices.
Police also claim Simpkins gave this false information to the Supreme Court and that in October 2023 he used falsified documentation “in an attempt to gain admission to other universities for further education purposes”.
They also allegedly discovered two further occasions in May this year when Simpkins was driving in Gnowangerup while his driver’s licence was disqualified.
He’s now facing a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice, gaining benefit by fraud, with intent to defraud utters a forged record and two further charges of no authority to drive.
He has a court date lined up at Perth Magistrates for September 18 and one at Katanning Magistrates on September 15.
Simpkins is the former treasurer of the Young Nationals WA, and was recently working as a labourer. A since removed LinkedIn profile said he was studying law online.
He has a three-year-old son with a former partner.
He is originally from Queensland but moved to WA in 2021.