Application did not include conviction
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• Eastern Deputy Licensing Authority Brian Horner has refused to renew the national licence for six vehicles held by Kaur Harjinder Thiara, trading as St Ives Bulk Haulage, of Huntingdon.
Mrs Thiara, of Sandwich Close, Huntingdon, had nominated her husband Kulwant Singh Thiara as the professionally competent transport manager, but had neglected to declare in her application the fact that he had received an 18-month prison sentence, six months of which was suspended, after being convicted of obtaining services by deception.
A conviction for driving
while disqualified was not declared.
Kulwant Singh Thiara said they had no vehicles at present. They had ceased operating in May 1992 as there was not much work about. They had five vehicles at the time. They were hoping business would pick up and that they could start again. The conviction that led to the prison sentence had not been declared because it occurred before he passed his CPC exam and became the transport manager.
DOT vehicle examiner David Ebbs said the firm received a warning letter in 1990 because of prohibition notices issued, The maintenance history up until 1989 was poor. No prohibitions were issued since June 1989, but he believed that no vehicles had been operated either, Questioned by the DLA, Thiara said they stopped operating last July. They had two lorries again but someone offered him good money so he sold them. Asked what evidence there was of the company having sufficient money to buy the vehicles, maintain them and run the business properly, Thiara said that when they got enough money they would buy vehicles. He did have some money but it was committed elsewhere at present. He said he was sorry the conviction for driving while disqualified had not been put on the application form, but his wife filled it in.
Refusing to renew the licence, Horner said Thiara's wife had made the application, nominating him as transport manager without declaring either of the convictions, both of which affected Thiara's repute.
In addition, there was no financial evi dence to support the operation of one vehicle, let alone six.