Indian-origin tycoon penalised for dodging parking fees
An Indian-origin multi-millionaire in Britain has been penalised for using a deceased person's ''disabled'' sticker for parking his 140,000 pounds (over $2,22,000) Ferrari for free.
Chirag Patel, 33, founder of a chain of cosmetic dentists, was branded a skinflint, miser and a cheat, his lawyer said, for dodging the 15-pound-a-day parking fee, the Daily Express reported.
Patel is said to have started using the sticker, which was issued to his business partner's dad prior to his death, when he bought the bright red Ferrari California convertible.
He had a 540 pound-a-year parking permit for another of his top-of-the-range cars. However, instead of applying for a new permit for the Ferrari or paying the 15 pound-a-day fee, he started displaying the disabled user's sticker.
Patel was secretly filmed as he parked the sports car outside one of his salons in Putney, south-west London, in December 2009.
He admitted at London's South Western magistrate's court two counts of misuse of the sticker.
He was fined 700 pounds on each count plus costs, amounting to 2,199 pounds. Patel denied fraud and the charge was dropped.
He was full of remorse, as he "unreservedly apologised" for the scam Friday.
