Fraudulent claim and illegal drainlaying leads to $3500 fine

For immediate release
16 October

Fraudulent claim and illegal drainlaying work leads to $3,500 fine for Auckland man

An Auckland man has been convicted and fined $2000 for fraudulently claiming to be a registered or licensed drainlayer. He was also convicted and fined $1,500 for carrying out drainlaying work without an authorisation.

Aaron L’Estrange Corbet signed a producer statement using the details of a certifying registered drainlayer and submitted it to the Auckland City Council. When the Council noticed the certifier was not authorised they contacted the Board.

Mr L’Estrange Corbet also carried out drainlaying work at a home in Mairangi Bay without authorisation.
He installed a foul water drain including extending a sewer drain 15 metres across the property.

Plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying are regulated industries in New Zealand and it is illegal for anyone to do this work unless they are authorised to do so by the Board.

Mr L’Estrange Corbet falsely represented his trade status and carried out work without authorisation. He has never been registered, licensed or otherwise authorised by the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board.

The Board’s Chief Executive, Max Pedersen said: “There are serious health and safety risks associated with drainlaying carried out by an unauthorised person. Any defective work has the potential to cause disease and serious damage to the property.

“All authorised tradespeople are required to carry their current authorisation card. We urge consumers to ask tradespeople for this card before any work commences so that they can be assured that the work is being done by an authorised and competent tradesperson.”

If a homeowner or building inspector believes that work has been done by someone who is not authorised, or has concerns about the competency of tradespeople, they can make a complaint to the Board.

Mr L’Estrange Corbet was sentenced in the Waitakere District Court on 16 October 2014.

Meanwhile, another Auckland man has been convicted and fined $5,600 for illegally carrying out gasfitting work. Chen Hui (Kevin) Ye was not authorised by the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board to carry out gasfitting work at a home in Mt Wellington.

The gasfitting work carried out by Mr Ye was defective and involved connecting a gas cooker to the gas supply, and connection of a gas water heater to the gas supply.

Terry King of Henderson was also convicted and charged $1,200 in the Waitakere District Court today. Mr King carried out sanitary plumbing work at a home in Henderson without authorisation from the Board. A complaint was made to the Board after the home owner experienced problems with the shower installed by Mr King and called on the services of another authorised plumber. He was also ordered to pay solicitor’s costs of $113 and Court costs of $130.

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