An inquiry into bribery and corruption allegations involving driver licencing agents is expanding.
According to One News, Police is investigating three people and are also now also focusing on Vehicle Testing New Zealand – which provides driver testing.
Vehicle Testing New Zealand (VTNZ) marketing communications manager Jessica Nikora told Automedia Group this morning that while the matter is under investigation, VTNZ is unable to make any comment.
The state-owned broadcaster says AA booking officer Lovepreet Brar is under investigation for selling drivers licenses for $500 or more, and it now believes that police have concerns around the selling of heavy truck licenses.
Three inquiries are underway over the number of potentially dodgy licenses Brar issued.
AA spokesperson Liam Baldwin told Automedia Group this morning that the motoring organisation has changed it processes for international licencing applicants from non-exempt countries.
“We believe the driver licencing system is robust, but no system is immune to alleged criminal activity,” says Baldwin.
According to Baldwin, the AA has taken the initiative to refer all licencing requests from drivers from non-exempt countries back to the New Zealand Transport Agency for an extra layer of oversight and a reference number.
Only then will AA staff process the application for a New Zealand driver’s licence after that the applicant will go through the regular test regime.
One News reports that several of its viewers are suggesting the alleged fraud stretches to more than the Meadowlands AA centre in East Auckland where Brar worked before resigning.
Associate Minister of Transport, Craig Foss told One News he doesn’t care what type of licence or branch is involved.
“It’s wrong, and people need to maintain our integrity and trust in this system,” he says.
“But at this stage, it’s very early in the investigation. It’s just an allegation so we will just have to wait and see if it is a large-scale fraud going on,” says Foss.
