Car yard director and disqualified dealer fined for multiple offences
- Disqualified motor dealer pleads guilty to selling multiple cars
- Moreton Bay car dealership director pleads guilty to providing false or misleading information
- All vehicle buyers identified the disqualified dealer after seeing a consumer affairs report
A disqualified motor car dealer, a Moreton Bay car dealership director and her company have today been fined a total of $11,000 after pleading guilty in the Redcliffe Magistrates Court to multiple charges under the Motor Dealers and Chattel Auctioneers Act 2014.
The charges followed an extensive investigation by the Queensland Office of Fair Trading.
Mezin Hadad, who was disqualified from holding a motor dealer licence in December 2023, pleaded guilty to selling 8 vehicles over 3 months in early 2024, without a registration certificate.
Jamila Louaffar, the sole director and secretary of Carwoo Pty Ltd which operated Fair Dinkum Autos in Grice St, Clontarf, pleaded guilty to providing misleading information.
OFT also charged Carwoo Pty Ltd with employing an unregistered (unlicensed)salesperson and not having a registered motor dealer in charge of its business.
Mr Hadad was issued a motor dealer principal licence in February 2019. It expired in February 2022.
His application for a new licence in June 2023 was rejected because of unpaid infringements and subsequent Queensland Civil and Administrative (QCAT) proceedings.
Following the finalisation of proceedings, on 31 December 2023 QCAT permanently disqualified Mr Hadad from holding a motor dealer licence.
This meant he had not held a licence to sell motor cars since February 2022.
Yet, he sold 8 vehicles, ranging from $5,000 to $9,000, between February and May 2024 while also accepting trade-ins.
All 8 buyers identified Mr Hadid from a story that aired on a consumer affairs TV report.
Ms Louaffar was charged for providing the name and motor dealer licence number of an individual who had no other affiliation with Carwoo Pty Ltd and had never worked with the dealership in any capacity.
Fair Trading Commissioner Victoria Thomson said OFT was determined to ensure all motor car dealers were licensed.
“Every motor dealer must be licensed, and it’s incumbent on the dealership to ensure they follow the law and have licensed vehicle sellers,” she said.
“Failure to do so can and, in many instances will, lead to prosecution by the OFT.
“Consumer protections exist for a reason, and we are vigilant in upholding them.”
Information about motor dealer licences and how to apply can be found on the website.