Five men face court after ‘cutting corners’ and risking lives
A blitz on electricians has led to five men being prosecuted in a single week. Here’s how they broke the rules.
South East
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More than $12,000 has been handed out in fines to sparkies busted working without a license and failing to supervise apprentices.
Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) last week took five men to court in relation to four separate incidents.
No convictions were recorded.
ESV Commissioner Marnie Williams said it was “disconcerting” so many people thought they could carry out “dangerous electrical work without the proper credentials.”
“ESV will find people who believe they can cut corners and put people’s lives at risk and ensure they are held accountable for this recklessness,” she said.
On Wednesday, August 18, Heidelberg Magistrates Court fined Bulleen father and son George and Michael Tsokas $2000 each and ordered them to pay $1000 in costs.
The pair carried out electrical and plumbing work at a Reservoir property in late 2018 without appropriate licences.
George Tsokas, 67, held a restricted electrical licence and no plumbing license while Michael Tsokas did not have licenses for either.
The same day, the Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court fined Mohammad Al Mir, 29, $2,500, and ordered him to pay $1500 in costs after carrying out unsafe electrical and plumbing work while tiling an Ivanhoe bathroom in August 2019.
The court heard the Caroline Springs man left live electrical parts exposed after he stripped plasterboard from a wall and removed the shower plumbing and base.
According to Energy Safe Victoria Mr El Mir left the house with the electrical parts still exposed, which could have resulted in an electrocution.
In yet another case Cheltenham handyman Dean Turner, 48, faced Frankston Magistrates Court on Thursday, August 19 after providing unlicensed electrical and plumbing work at a Hampton East property in October 2017.
Mr Turner was ordered to pay $350 to the court fund and $1500 in costs.
ESV said the homeowner had asked Mr Turner about his licence after installing new socket outlets and not providing electrical and plumbing certificates.
The homeowner complained to ESV, which prompted an investigation.
Mr Turner was also prosecuted in September 2019 by the Victorian Building Authority for unlicensed plumbing work and was fined $10,000 without a conviction.
Meanwhile, apprentice electrician Nicholas Lye, 28, was ordered to pay $500 in costs by the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday, August 16.
According to ESV Mr Lye had removed an old split system airconditioner at a Richmond property in December 2018 without the supervision of a licensed electrician.
Ms Williams urged people to ask to see an electrician’s license card before any work began and ensure a Certificate of Electrical Safety was provided when the job was completed.