Bogus WoFs earn Auckland man home detention
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is welcoming the recent conviction and sentencing of an unapproved vehicle inspector. The man fraudulently issued hundreds of warrants of fitness (WoFs).
NZTA says the sentence should serve as a deterrent to others.
On 26 May, the owner of Newmarket Automotive Repairs, Mr Taki, was sentenced to 10 months and 2 weeks' of home detention in the Auckland District Court. He earlier pleaded guilty to charges relating to fraudulently issuing WoFs.
NZTA investigators found that from 9 December 2022 to 6 June 2023, Mr Taki had issued 677 WoFs despite not being appointed as an authorised vehicle inspector. He had not completed any of the inspections.
NZTA immediately revoked Newmarket Automotive's inspecting organisation authority. All WoFs issued by the offender during that time were cancelled. Affected vehicle owners were asked to get their vehicles rechecked. A significant percentage of those cars had faults when rechecked at authorised inspecting organisations.
A spokesperson for NZTA said: 'Warrant of fitness checks ensure that cars have undergone a general safety check to help keep drivers, passengers and road users safe.
'It's very disappointing when fraud happens in the vehicle inspecting system, as the customer pays the price. They must pay for another WoF and are potentially put at risk in the interim period, if vehicle faults exist and have gone unchecked.
'Through his actions, Mr Taki has risked the safety of the vehicle owners, plus their passengers and other road users.
'People should be reassured that NZTA has the access to data and intelligence to investigate when we have concerns about fraud.
'We take swift action and hold vehicle inspectors to account when vehicle safety is compromised,' said Senior Manager Safer Vehicles, Nicole Botherway.
District Court Judge JM Jelas considered mitigating factors, such as Mr Taki's guilty plea and prior good character, before arriving at sentencing.
As the inspecting organisation representative for Newmarket Auto Repairs, Mr Taki was obliged to ensure that only NZTA-appointed vehicle inspectors undertook inspection activities and approved the issue of a WoF certification.
Customers were charged $60 for each WOF, earning him more than $40,000 in undue revenue.
The NZTA Safer Vehicles team regularly reviews inspecting organisations and vehicle inspectors to check compliance. If serious non-compliance is found, the team ensures that the right regulatory response is applied, including enforcement action.
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