The Parramatta Local Court has sentenced a former real estate agent based in Sydney to a 12-month Intensive Corrections Order, which will see him perform 200 hours of community service. In addition, he has also been ordered to pay $93,000 in compensation.
An agent with Jovan Real Estate Pty Ltd., Jatinder Singh Sahota was charged with fraudulently withholding $90,000 in property deposits which arose from the selling of two properties in the suburb of Miller in south-western Sydney across 2016 and 2017.
But the sales never went through and the agreement was subsequently terminated. 
New South Wales Fair Trading Commissioner, Rose Webb said Mr Sahota was legally obliged to return the funds in full, but he never did.
Jatinder Singh Sahota was charged with fraudulently withholding $90,000 in property deposits Source: Getty Images
“There is no other record of the money having been otherwise received by Mr Sahota’s employer, and the money was not banked into the trust account as required. The funds were not recovered,” Ms Webb said.
In addition, Mr Sahota’s certificate under the Property, Stock and Business Agents Act was cancelled and he was disqualified from being involved in the direction, management, or conduct of a business or a licensee for seven years.
Meanwhile, the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) has proposed to deregister Jovan Real Estate Pty Ltd.
“This outcome shows that Fair Trading will take all disciplinary and enforcement action necessary to ensure that real estate agents who misuse trust money are adequately punished,” Ms Webb said.
Mr Sahota has the right to lodge an appeal.
