The former director of a luxury car hire business has been convicted and fined in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court after repeatedly failing to appear to give evidence to the Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria.
Andreas Triantafyllos, 44, failed to appear to give evidence on 19 August and 2 October, 2019 as directed in statutory notices. Under the Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012, our Director can make such a request using a statutory notice, and take court action against someone if they fail to appear and give evidence as directed in the notice.
As part of an investigation into luxury car hire services, we had identified Mr Triantafyllos as a person capable of giving evidence relating to possible breaches of the Australian Consumer Law, including misleading, deceptive, and unconscionable conduct, in the provision of those services.
We have previously taken court action against Mr Triantafyllos and VIP Executive Car Rentals Pty Ltd, a company of which he was the director in 2005.
Mr Triantafyllos pleaded guilty to failing to give evidence as required under two statutory notices. He was convicted on 7 June 2022 and fined $4250.
Consumer Affairs Victoria Director Nicole Rich welcomed the conviction, which she said reflected the seriousness of the offence. Statutory notices help consumer regulators to protect the community from unlawful business practices, Ms Rich said.