A car mechanic didn’t take it too seriously when inspecting a car. For this, he was given a criminal conviction at the regional court on Monday and also lost his right to take exams. But he is apparently not the only “black sheep”…
Despite serious defects in the vehicle, the 41-year-old defendant from Oberland reported positively at the end of March last year. When the car was taken off the road almost 1,480 kilometres later during a test and inspected by the Vorarlberg state vehicle expert Christian Wolf, the rust revealed itself to him in the form of a broken spring and a torn brake hose. In addition, the wishbone had not been installed properly. Wolf’s conclusion is clear: “The car should never have been registered.”
Lost exam authorization and a criminal record
The consequences for the ‘pickle lender’ were ultimately fatal: not only was his authority to conduct audits revoked, but criminal proceedings were also initiated against the ‘limp’. On Monday, the Oberlander was sentenced to a four-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 1,200 euros for abuse of office in the trial at the regional court in Feldkirch.
But that’s not the end of the story: Because another vehicle he inspected with serious defects has since been taken off the market, the next criminal case against the 41-year-old is already pending with the Public Prosecutor’s Office. This is by no means an isolated case: last week alone, two “black sheep” were convicted of abuse of office at the regional court in Feldkirch.
The question naturally arises: how reliable are the approximately 250 workshops that are authorised to carry out assessments and are they actually monitored when it comes to awarding badges? “Overhauls are of course carried out on site, but also digitally. For example, if a workshop has a noticeable number of old vehicles without defects,” says Brigitte Hutter from the Vorarlberg State Traffic Authority.
And of course tips would be followed up and violations would be punished more severely than a few years ago. What the statistics also prove: In 2019, only one workshop had its permit to inspect vehicles revoked, but this year there are already nine companies.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
