TORONTO – A Toronto-based agent has pleaded guilty to and been convicted of operating without registration.

Mahendran Sivakolunthu was convicted of one count of operating as a travel agent without registration, contrary to section 4(1)(a) of the Travel Industry Act, 2002. He operated in Toronto and elsewhere in Ontario.

His sentence includes a fine in the amount of $3,000 plus Victim Surcharge Fees, for a total of $3,750, payable over two years.

He has also been placed on Probation Order for one year starting Sept. 21, 2016, with the following conditions:

• Report to the Probation Officer within five days from the date of the Order and thereafter as required by the Officer;
• Pay restitution to the consumer in the amount of $2,000, payable monthly at no less than $170 per month until paid in full;
• Prior to accepting employment in the travel industry, inform the employer of this conviction under the Act;
• Within five days from accepting employment in the travel industry, inform the Registrar, Travel Industry Act, 2002, in writing, of the name of the agency.