Driver testing officer accused of corruption asked colleague to 'go easy' on applicants, court hears

Wednesday, 21 November 2018

A former driver licence testing officer says one of his colleagues would ask him to 'go easy' on applicants.

Duncan Cheuk Keen Li was giving evidence at the Manukau District Court where Mohammed Feroz has denied 73 charges of obtaining by deception and Daryl Pregasen Govender has denied 17 charges.

Li worked with the accused as a driving testing officer at the AA branch in Meadowlands in east Auckland.

He said Feroz asked him to 'go easy' on applicants about 100 times.

Li said Feroz also asked him to swap applicants.

The Crown says this was because the applicants had paid bribes and Feroz wanted the applicant to be tested by a corrupt officer - not Li.

Two others have admitted taking bribes and pleaded guilty.

One of those is Lovepreet Brar who worked in customer services and often took the money from the applicants.

Li said Brar often 'cut corners' in processing applicants.

He said instead of putting the applicants through the required eye test, Brar would say 'don't worry, it's done'.

Li said people would come into the branch and ask for Brar.

He said he had a few arguments with Brar about not following procedures.

'For example, [he would ask] why did I keep failing his brothers. I said: 'How many brothers do you have?' and he said: 'Just be a bit nicer'.'

Li said the applicants were unable to drive or were not up to the standard.

'[Brar] would say: he's my brother - be a bit nicer.'

Under cross-examination, Li agreed with Feroz's lawyer Isaac Koya that the work was occasionally dangerous. He had been involved in car accidents while testing drivers and he would sometimes get abused by people who had failed their test.

Li said he now worked as a driving instructor for the AA.

He was also asked questions by Koya about his brother who is a driving instructor.

Mr Koya asked: 'Did you ask Mr Feroz to pass your brother's applicants?'

Li said he did not and asked Koya if he had proof.

Li was also questioned by Govender's lawyer Leinafo Taimalelagi about being offered bribes.

'I had several occasions where applicants would offer money and I'd just walk off.'

He said when that happened, he had to fill out a form that would go to management.

Li also confirmed that he had earlier described Govender as 'by the book' and 'strict and firm'.

Earlier, Crown prosecutor David Stevens said the bribes were typically $350 but more money was demanded if the applicant didn't want to turn up to the test or they wanted a heavy vehicle licence.

He said most applicants had failed at least once but in some cases the applicants had failed five times.

Often the applicants lived a long way from the AA Meadowlands branch and would sit their tests early, to increase their chances of getting a corrupt testing officer.

Stevens said payments were made either directly into Brar's bank account or by cash to Brar, Feroz or Govender.

In some cases, the members of the scheme would meet in the staff room and swap applicants, to ensure a corrupt officer got a bribe paying applicant.

Mr Stevens said the Crown's case would prove that the pair received part of the bribe, they made false representations to the New Zealand Transport Agency and that they intended to deceive the authority.

He said had NZTA known the testing officers had accepted money, the licences would never have been issued.

The trial, before Judge Mina Wharepouri, has been set down for three weeks.