Public Defender: Adam Assad threatened with jail sentence increase for odometer tampering

ADAM Assad got a surprise when he appealed to get his jail sentence for odometer tampering wound back — the judge threatened to increase it.

ADAM Assad got a surprise when he appealed to the District Court last month in a bid to get his jail sentence for odometer tampering wound back — instead of reducing the term, the judge threatened to increase it.

In November last year Assad, of Yagoona, became the first person in NSW to be sent to the slammer for fiddling with the kilometres on a car. He got a maximum eight months’ jail with a three-month non-parole period.

Assad was found to have wound back nearly 900,000km on five vehicles. He sold four — without a licence — for a total of $134,000, netting him a profit of more than $40,000. Parramatta Local Court heard that as part of the scam he swapped plates and created false log books.

Assad appealed the severity of the sentence to Parramatta District Court. But he didn’t get the outcome he was hoping for.

Far from going soft, Judge Antony Townsden issued a “parker direction”, saying that he would have imposed a lengthier sentence — 12 months in prison with a non-parole period of at least six months.

Assad quickly withdrew his appeal.

Fair Trading Minister Stuart Ayres said: “I am glad the court recognised the seriousness of Mr Assad’s actions and saw fit to uphold the original custodial sentence.”