Issue Date:  -  Friday, 15 September 2000

Landlord fined $5,000 in Midland Court

Magistrate Colin Roberts labeled Carmelo Saliba “the landlord from hell” as he imposed a $5,000 fine with $2,500 costs in the Midland court yesterday.

Mr. Saliba was found guilty of eighteen (18) charges under the Residential Tenancies Act (and Regulations).

The charges related to a myriad of offences including failing to provide receipts for a tenant’s bond and rent, failing to deposit the bond money into an authorized financial institution and failing to comply with past orders of the Midland Court.

“We are very pleased with this result” Fair Trading Commissioner Patrick Walker said today. “A young single mother suffered considerable inconvenience and upset at the hands of this uncaring landlord and a message should be sent that this behavior will not be tolerated” he said.

Magistrate Roberts noted that the tenant lived in a property where the sewerage flooded up to her back door and that she had to take legal action to get Mr. Saliba as landlord to fulfill his obligations.

Magistrate Roberts said when sentencing Mr. Saliba, that he showed blatant disregard for court orders and showed a complete lack of commitment or remorse.

The Ministry of Fair Trading brought Investigator Chad Prout up from Albany for the court case to give evidence, as Mr. Prout first interviewed with the landlord in 1998. Fair Trading applied to have their costs awarded against Mr. Saliba.

Media inquiries:

Mike Winchester
Tel: (08) 9282 0961