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SURREY, British Columbia — A Delta, British Columbia, man who pleaded guilty to 15 fraud charges relating to used-vehicle sales was given a one-year conditional sentence and will serve 100 hours of community service along with paying restitutions for three cases.

Evidence against Parveen Kumar Saini pointed to odometer tampering, incorrect vehicle histories and sales tax violations, among other "deliberately deceptive" actions. Officials said these acts go back to 2005.

Explaining what Judge Paul Dohm's ruling for a one-year conditional sentence means, officials said it is "effectively house arrest, except for medical emergencies or to work, with the terms easing as the year progresses."

In summarizing the cases to the court, Crown Prosecutor John Ahern stated, "What is absolutely clear in these cases is the deliberate planning to perpetrate each fraud: Finding the appropriate low-price vehicle, rolling back the odometer, detailing to improve appearance, creating a false history, finding a suitable victim, forging official documents, tax fraud and other deception — not just once, but a consistent, repetitive pattern."

It was the most susceptible shoppers whom Saini went after, according to Ahern. Especially targeted were people who were recently new to Canada and didn't speak English well or have a grasp of the local culture.

Ahern, who called Saini a "curber," read from the Motor Vehicle Sales Authority of B.C.'s Victim Statement as it relates to curbing, citing the following excerpt:

"It is a black market business rife with misrepresentation of vehicle histories, odometer rollbacks and dishonest practices such as falsifying sales documents to minimize sales taxes payable, corrupting consumers into illegal activity and therefore ensuring their conspiratorial co-operation if later problems develop … licensed dealers are fully accountable under law and are expected to strive to maintain best standards of practice; pay all appropriate taxes; and, most contribute substantially to their community. …  While illegal sellers, known as 'curbers' give nothing back, cannot be held accountable unless the focus of an investigation by the VSA, police or both and usually engage in predatory practices, exploiting vulnerable consumers. These consumers are often people in financial distress or new immigrants."