Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is welcoming the recent conviction and sentencing of an unapproved vehicle inspector for fraudulently issuing warrants of fitness (WoFs), noting the sentence should serve as a deterrent to others.
On 26 May, Aucklander Imroz Taki, owner of Newmarket Automotive Repairs, was sentenced to 10 months and 2 weeks’ home detention in the Auckland District Court, after earlier pleading guilty to charges relating to fraudulently issuing WoFs.
NZTA investigators found that from 9 December 2022 to 6 June 2023, Mr Taki issued 677 WoFs despite not being appointed as an authorised vehicle inspector. He used the vehicle inspector appointment belonging to a previous employee and had not completed any of the inspections.
NZTA immediately revoked (cancelled) Newmarket Automotive’s inspecting organisation authority and all WoFs issued by Mr Taki during that time. Affected vehicle owners were contacted and asked to get their vehicles rechecked. A significant percentage of those cars were found to have faults when rechecked at other inspecting organisations.
“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 – having to pay for another WoF and potentially being at 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,” says Senior Manager Safer Vehicles Nicole Botherway.
From a starting point of two years and six months’ imprisonment, District Court Judge JM Jelas considered mitigating factors, such as Mr Taki’s guilty plea and prior good character to arrive at the sentencing.
As the inspecting organisation representative for Newmarket Auto Repairs, Mr Taki had the obligation to ensure that only NZTA-appointed vehicle inspectors undertook inspection activities, made decisions on vehicle and component conditions and approved the issue of a WoF certification.
Instead, Mr Taki issued WoFs without the vehicles being inspected by NZTA-appointed inspectors. 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.
