A Nelson businessman who failed to pay a large amount of tax has been warned by a judge that if more people took his approach there would be no hospitals.
Omer Akbaba, a restaurateur whose wife is currently receiving hospital treatment, appeared in the Nelson District Court this morning.
He was sentenced to five months' home detention and 120 hours' community work for failing to pay income tax and GST amounting to more than $103,000.
He had earlier admitted charges of aiding and abetting Richmond company Mirac Ltd to mislead Inland Revenue by providing false information.
Judge Tony Zohrab said the offending was serious and, if others did the same, there would be no hospitals to treat the likes of Akbaba's ill wife, nor would the country have schools or roads.
Akbaba's lawyer, Dave Holloway, said his client was paying the money back and therefore reparation was not sought.
