I find this a fascinating thread. From my limited knowledge of this process if you ask 3 different employment lawyers for their take on this you will get 3 different answers. From my reading of employment law in WHS whilst waiting for the wife. To skip a bond is not committing fraud as it would have to be proved that it was your intention to jump ship from the start. If you had just had enough then any change to the T&C that you signed up to may nullify the agreement. It would not be a criminal offence but they could try and take you to a civil court and press for the dosh back, see T&Cs above. You also need to recheck your contract ie was your signature witnessed, was every page signed below the last line and not just at the bottom of the page. was there a date next to the signature. did your company bod sign their part of the contract. have they missed or made late salary payments. the big factor is that without your last companies blessing you may have problems getting a job with a reputable company as it is a small world, but if i needed pilots and one pitched up with a rating then stuff the other company business is business. i still think the best way forward though is to talk to the management in your present company and work out an agreement but dont just write a cheque and hand it over without either taking legal advice and or talking to your company. also just check and see if anyone before you has left and what they did cos if they didnt have to pay you probably wont either. I have known people who have walked with their company approval and others who have just written a cheque without thinking it through and seeking advice and been lots of Ks worse off.
everyone knows someone!