Online trader convicted

A Trade Me user has been convicted and fined for selling electrical plug adaptors on the internet auction website.

Palmerston North's Leigh Joe, 24, admitted breaching the electricity regulations by continuing to sell electrical products without first establishing their safety.

She was fined $500 plus $280 costs in the Palmerston North District Court.

Energy Safety, part of the Ministry of Economic Development, brought Joe to the attention of Trade Me in June 2008.

She was warned to stop selling appliances with non-approved plug adaptors and was banned from the auction site when she was again found to be listing the adaptors, believed to come from China.

"These products are considered high risk, presenting a hazard to anyone who uses them," Energy Safety said.

"This is the first prosecution Energy Safety has taken against an on-line trader and is pleased with the result. We want on-line traders to realise that the same rules apply to them as everyone else selling electrical products," said Richard Lamb, energy safety compliance officer.

"This was not a small-scale trader, they were supplying significant numbers of products. The conviction and fine sends a message to on-line traders that they have the same responsibilities as everyone else who supplies electrical products."

In the past year Energy Safety has warned more than 50 Trade Me members, resulting in the removal of significant numbers of potentially unsafe electrical appliances from the market.

- NZPA