Sri Lankan-run dealership convicted in New Zealand’s first odometer tampering case: The Press

Colombo, July 15 (Daily Mirror) - A Sri Lankan-operated used car dealership in New Zealand has been convicted in what The Press, a Christchurch-based daily newspaper and news website, reported is the country's first successful prosecution for odometer tampering under the Motor Vehicle Sales Act.

According to The Press, Carporium, operated by Sachis Holdings Ltd, sold a Toyota RAV4 for NZ$24,000 in February 2024. The discrepancy came to light more than a year later during a routine service, when technicians discovered that the vehicle's odometer reading did not match its recorded service history.

Investigators found the vehicle had recorded 150,031 kilometres when it was purchased at an Auckland car auction, but showed only 119,244 kilometres when it was later sold to the customer, meaning the odometer had been rolled back by more than 30,000 kilometres.

Following an investigation by New Zealand's Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), charges were filed under the Motor Vehicle Sales Act for odometer tampering and related offences.

The Press reported that before sentencing, Carporium agreed to buy back the vehicle for the original purchase price of NZ$24,000. The court also ordered the company's director to pay NZ$1,000 in emotional harm reparation, while the dealership was fined NZ$5,000.

MBIE said the case marked New Zealand's first successful prosecution for odometer tampering and warned that such practices would not be tolerated as they mislead consumers about a vehicle's value, condition and maintenance history.