Prosecution - EWRB v Kumaran

On 19 July 2022, Naveen Kumaran was sentenced by Judge Lovell-Smith on two charges of performing unauthorised prescribed electrical work, one charge of knowingly permitting any person to do unauthorised prescribed electrical work, and one charge of holding himself out to be a registered Electrician. The charges related to offending at properties in the Auckland suburbs of Manurewa and Papakura.

The Manurewa offending included Mr Kumaran moving a main switchboard, running a new mains cable and main earth conductor to the new location for the main switchboard, and connecting all power points, light, air conditioning and hot water pilot cable to the new main switchboard location. Mr Kumaran did not issue a certificate of compliance for the completed prescribed electrical work. He also oversaw another unregistered person complete prescribed electrical work at the property. This person believed Mr. Kumaran was a registered electrician and was able to supervise him as part of his electrical apprenticeship. At the time of this offending Mr Kumaran was awaiting sentencing for other offences under the Act.

The Papakura offending involved Mr Kumaran holding himself out to be a registered electrician by providing the complainant with a business card for “Kumar Electrical & Services” and assuring the complainant that he was a “certified electrician”. The prescribed electrical work completed at the property was significant and involved disconnecting a temporary power supply, disconnecting a main meter box, installing a temporary meter box, installing a new underground power cable and supply telephone line without appropriate conduits, and opening and dismantling a power box. Mr Kumaran did not issue a certificate of compliance for the completed prescribed electrical work.  

Mr Kumaran was sentenced to a fine of $8000, along with Court and solicitor’s costs. 90 percent of the fine was ordered to be paid to the Board.

The court found that the offending was aggravated by the fact that it was for financial gain and increased the fine to take into account Mr Kumaran’s history of previous offending under the Act for which he was sentenced in 2016 and 2020.