NSW Fair Trading’s crackdown on odometer tampering continues, with another successful prosecution in Parramatta Local Court.
Mustapha Adel Ajouz of Guildford pleaded guilty on 21 April of three counts of odometer tampering, after winding back almost 700,000 kilometres on two Toyota Hilux vehicles and a Toyota Prado.
He was convicted and ordered to pay $12,855 fines and costs and a further $57,050 compensation to two consumers he sold the tampered vehicles to.
NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe said the agency had successfully prosecuted 10 odometer tamperers so far this year, including Mr Ajouz’s cousin, Mustapha Abdul Ajouz, who was prosecuted for similar odometer offences two weeks ago.
“In this most recent case, one unwitting consumer paid $40,000 for a 2009 Toyota Prado that had supposedly clocked up only 87,000 kilometres,” Mr Stowe said.
“In fact the vehicle had travelled almost 300,000 kilometres when Mr Ajouz bought it from a private seller for just $19,750 five months earlier.
“Purchasing a car is a major financial decision for most of us and unscrupulous behaviour such as this must be clamped down on in the interests of consumer protection.”
In September 2014 the NSW Government introduced tougher penalties for unlawful odometer tampering, doubling the maximum fine per offence from $11,000 to $22,000.
Mr Stowe said Fair Trading offered a free app, My Next Car, for consumers planning to buy a second hand car. The app can be downloaded athttp://bit.ly/P3sx6e
An interactive guide designed to assist consumers through the entire car buying and owning experience can also be accessed at htp://bit.lty/1DRifLi