The Magistrates’ Court issues a record fine for breaches of the Electricity Safety Act and has successfully prosecuted a Golden Square man on 47 charges relating to unlicensed electrical work and unsafe electrical work. Michael Sukit Llewellyn, of Symons St Golden Square, did not appear in the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court when the matter was heard before Magistrate Peter Dunn on 1 November. Mr Llewellyn was convicted of 37 counts of doing unlicensed electrical work, six counts of unsafe work, two counts of working without registration as a registered electrical contractor, and two counts of giving false information on a Certificate of Electrical Safety. He was fined $67,500, plus costs of more than $5000. It is the highest single fine ever issued by a court in relation to breaches of the Electricity Safety Act.

Prosecutor John Murphy of ESV alleged that Mr Llewellyn had been doing a range of electrical work even though he was not licensed, and subsequent inspections of that work found that it was unsafe and non-compliant. A witness called by ESV described Mr Llewellyn’s work as the “highest level of unsafe work possible”. “On a scale of one to 10, it rated a 10.5,” the court was told. Magistrate Dunn was told Mr Llewellyn, who traded under the name MBK Electrical even though it does not appear on Victoria’s register of business names, had worked widely across the metropolitan area, including Mont Albert and Maribyrnong. Mr Murphy for ESV was told Mr Llewellyn’s victims faced total bills of up to $40,000 to rectify his unsafe and non-compliant work, and to complete unfinished work he had been paid for in advance. A licensed plumber who engaged Mr Llewellyn to do electrical work associated with the installation of split system air conditioners also faced costs of $2000 inspecting and rectifying Llewellyn’s non-compliant work. Magistrate Dunn said that if a jail sentence had been available to him as a sentencing option under the Act, it would have been appropriate in this case.

Victoria’s Director of Energy Safety, Paul Fearon, said the size of the fine indicated how seriously ESV and the courts treated electrical safety issues. Mr Fearon warned Victorians against employing anyone who was not a registered electrical contractor. “Consumers should ask to see the registration card or check the ESV website to ensure the person doing the work was appropriately registered,” he said. “If you have any concerns about a contractor’s credentials then contact ESV and we will be able assist, and will follow-up if necessary. “ESV takes the safety of Victorians very seriously and we will prosecute those who are doing electrical work without the appropriate licence.”