For nine years an Auckland motor mechanic wrecked engines to siphon thousands of dollars from the wallets of unsuspecting clients.
Yesterday, Oswald Othmar Risi was sentenced to jail for two years and eight months after being found guilty of fraud on April 6.
The 44-year-old had deliberately "cooked" the engines of cars
brought to his two Auckland motor repair workshops, in one case ripping off a customer for more than $7500.
He also replaced working cylinder heads after draining water from radiators and ran engines dry for up to five hours.
Some customers wound up with large bills after booking their vehicles in for routine services at Risi's Nationwide Service Centre in Glen Innes and Remuera Village Auto Services, later known as Remuera European Motors.
Risi told the clients their cars required major mechanical repairs.
Judge Lindsay Moore said in the Auckland District Court that Risi had "cheated" people who had trusted him and had prevented his employees from "remaining honest."
A staff member who had been keeping an eye on Risi and compiling notebooks with details of the unnecessary work had not complained to police because he feared losing his job.
Other staff were made redundant or accused of theft by Risi if they were critical.
Crown prosecutor Todd Simmonds described Risi's behaviour as callous and ruthless.
He had preyed on female clients and the elderly, who were unlikely to have knowledge of mechanical repairs.
John Evans, whose mother paid $1700 after Risi lied and said her 1989 Toyota had blown a head gasket on all four cylinders, was delighted by the sentence.
"I think he's an absolute predator. I'm very satisfied he's been put in prison."
Detective Warrick Webber said Risi, who has received hate mail since being in custody, had shown no remorse and still maintained his innocence.
Risi was convicted on 25 charges of fraud, 12 charges of wilful damage and two charges of attempted wilful damage.
Motor Trade Association chief executive Stephen Matthews said Risi was an extreme case and highlighted the need for consumers to be protected.
"A vehicle is a technically complex thing, so the average motorist is often in the dark over repair issues."
Mr Matthews said Risi was not an association member and it was important that customers dealt only with reputable repairers.
