A Maddington motor vehicle dealer and repairer has been banned for two years from holding a dealer’s licence or repair business licence, or managing a company that holds either licence, after he was found guilty of selling vehicles with wound-back odometers.
Mazin Alkiaat, formerly operating as W.A. Auto and Parts, had his licences cancelled by the State Administrative Tribunal on 10 November 2017 after being found to be unfit to be the holder of a licence.
The disqualification follows his conviction in the Perth Magistrates Court on 28 July 2017 for selling four vehicles that had their odometers wound-back. Mr Alkiaat was fined $30,000 and ordered to pay costs of $350.35.
Mr Alkiaat pleaded guilty to four charges of breaching the Australian Consumer Law by making false or misleading representations about the history of the vehicles which were originally purchased at auction, then on-sold to another dealer.
The buyer of the four vehicles was misled with the odometer readings showing fewer kilometres travelled than was the case:
- A 2006 Mitsubishi Triton that had travelled 307,235 kilometres had a reading of 160,211 when sold in May 2016;
- A 2006 Nissan Navara that had travelled 203,145 kilometres had a reading of 145,604 kilometres when sold in July 2016;
- A 2006 Toyota Camry that had travelled 166,233 kilometres had a reading of 131,277 kilometres when sold in August 2016; and
- A 2007 Nissan Navara that had travelled 217,375 kilometres had a reading of 167,506 kilometres when sold in October 2016.
Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard said Mr Alkiaat has paid a high price for his deception.
“Not only has Mr Alkiaat been given a significant fine, he has now lost a source of income for a two year period and also has a criminal conviction recorded against his name,” Mr Hillyard said.
“The financial penalty he has suffered far exceeds any money he may have made from the sale of the vehicles, proving that such acts of deceit come at great risk.
“This case should be a warning to anyone else in the industry who is involved in this deceptive and illegal practice which takes advantage of unsuspecting buyers. You will be caught eventually and we will take swift action when it is brought to our attention.”
Motor vehicle buyers who believe they have been misled can lodge a complaint on the Consumer Protection website www.consumerprotection.wa.gov.au. Enquiries can be made by emailing consumer@dmirs.wa.gov.au or by calling 1300 30 40 54.
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Media Contact: Alan Hynd, (08) 6552 9248 / 0429 078 791 / alan.hynd@dmirs.wa.gov.au