Wheels fell off trailer he’d said was sound

A MECHANIC who issued a “dodgy certificate” for a boat trailer which was so rusted its wheels fell off while it was being driven faces a bill of more than $2200.

Avraham Ginsberg, 75, pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court yesterday to one count each of an approved examiner signing an incomplete certificate and an approved examiner signing a certificate while not satisfied about the identity of a vehicle.

Magistrate Gary Finger fined Ginsberg $1200, ordered he pay $1000 in compensation and $92 for court costs.

“The result is of your issuing a dodgy certificate,” he said.

“This trailer is full of rust and should never have been given a certificate.”

Mr Finger said Ginsberg would have not wanted the same to happen to him.

“This fellow bought the trailer in good faith, he pulled it out of the water, was driving along and the wheels fell off,” he said.

The court heard Ginsberg inspected the boat and trailer on December 5, 2016 with his mobile inspection business.

The boat and trailer were then sold with the “dodgy certificate” from Ginsberg.

Just a month later, after the new owner had used the trailer just three times, the wheels fell off while being towed.

Department of Transport and Main Roads lawyer Anthony Loudon told the court that due to the amount of rust the new owner had needed to buy a new trailer.

Defence lawyer Mark Glaser, of Glaser Lawyers, said Ginsberg had since been forced to shut down his inspection business and lost his source of income.

He said Ginsberg had his licence to inspect vehicles permanently removed but the suspension was reduced to 12 months after an appeal to the Queensland Civil Administrative Tribunal.

“Mr Ginsberg had a genuine although mistaken view the trailer had been swapped,” he said.