A man currently serving a prison sentence for using forged building indemnity insurance certificates to defraud consumers has been further penalised for unlicensed building work, following action taken by Consumer and Business Services.

The Elizabeth Magistrates Court was told that during 2020 and 2021, 48-year-old Joseph Biju Kavilpurayidathil of Ferryden Park solicitor for - and partially carried out - building work on properties in Para Hills and Flagstaff Hill while unlicensed.

In the first instance, Kavilpurayidathil accepted a payment of nearly $18,000 for renovation works - including the removal of fences and installation of fencing and retaining walls.

The court was told the work undertaken by Kavilpurayidathil resulted in burst water pipes damaging a neighbour's property, and he again refused to either rectify the work, compensate the consumer for the damage or complete the work.

Kavilpurayidathil is currently serving a prison sentence after being convicted of defrauding clients through the provision of forged building indemnity insurance certificates.

Convictions were recorded for the breaches of the Building Work Contractors Act and he was ordered to pay his two victims a total of $9,875.12 in compensation.

As Kavilpurayidathil was already imprisoned on the fraud charges, Magistrate Edward Stratton-Smith did not impose any further fines.