Queensland landlord Spiros Pandelakis has received a prison sentence and his company fined $48,000 for breaches of fire-safety regulations at two backpacker residences.
It takes Pandelakis’ total fines to more than $1 million first offence in 2009 for running backpacker accommodation in Caboolture that did not comply with Queensland fire safety regulations.
Pandelakis was sentenced yesterday to two months in prison and a four-month suspended sentence, the two terms to be served concurrently. His company was also fined $415,000.
QFRS Commissioner Lee Johnson said the penalty was a reminder to all illegal budget accommodation operators that they would be caught. He highlighted the tragic Childers Backpackers Hostel fire as an example of what could go wrong.
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