DOI ARRESTS FOUR INDIVIDUALS ON BRIBERY CHARGES BASED ON TIPS FROM CITY BUILDINGS INSPECTORS
ROSE GILL HEARN, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced the arrests of two homeowners, a building owner, and a home improvement contractor in three separate cases on charges of paying cash bribes – between $100 and $1,000 – to avoid construction violations issued by the City Department of Buildings (“DOB”). DOI began each of the investigations after it was notified by DOB Inspectors that they were offered cash bribes. The arrests occurred within the last six weeks, with the most recent arrests today. The offices of Queens County District Attorney Richard A. Brown and Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes are prosecuting the cases.
DOI Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn said, “The City has zero tolerance for individuals who try to corrupt City employees to dodge construction violations. Everyone should know City Buildings Inspectors report bribe offers to DOI and that the price of that crime is arrest and prosecution. I commend the Building Inspectors who stepped up to report illegal conduct and for their assistance in DOI’s ongoing effort to expose and halt corrupt practices.”
The following are synopses of the incidents:
• Today, DOI arrested VIVEKANAND DHANPATLALL, 53, a Queens contractor, and RAJKARAN VISHUDANAND, 62, father of the property owner, both of Richmond Hill, Queens, who have been charged with Bribery in the Third Degree, a class D felony, punishable upon conviction by up to seven years in prison. The office of Queens County District Attorney Richard A. Brown is prosecuting the case.
According to the criminal complaint, on October 20, 2010, a DOB Inspector observed construction taking place at a Queens residence on 109th Avenue without the proper permits and told the defendants that they would need to obtain the proper permits or cease construction. In response, the defendants gave the inspector $1,000 in cash to be allowed to continue the work and to receive no violations.
• On October 14, 2010, DOI arrested LEON NEKTALOV, 50, of Flushing, Queens, charged with Bribery in the Third Degree, a class D felony. Assistant District Attorney Corey Shoock of the Kings County District Attorney’s Office is assigned to the prosecution of the case.
According to the criminal complaint, in August 2010, ongoing construction work was observed at a residential building on Brighton 5th Street in Brooklyn despite an active stop work order. On September 1, 2010, a DOI undercover investigator posing as a DOB inspector told the defendant that he would be issued a violation for ignoring a stop work order and for the presence of unsafe scaffolding. The defendant threw $160 on the ground and handed an additional $40 to the “inspector” stating that he wanted to avoid a summons.
• On October 5, 2010, DOI arrested JOYCE LALL, 63, of Jamaica, Queens, charged with Bribery in the Third Degree, a class D felony. Assistant District Attorney Michelle Cort of the Queens County District Attorney’s Office is assigned to prosecution of the case.
According to the criminal complaint, in August 2010, the defendant offered $100 to a DOI undercover investigator posing as a DOB inspector to avoid a violation against her residential property on 130th Street in Queens.
DOB has re-inspected each of the three residential properties.
11 comments:
I guess these three didn't know the "right" people.
Richmond Hill, why does that not surprise me?
Who is investigating the inspectors?
This seems like run of the mill stuff - how about the big busts with serial developers that build crap without regards to the laws - nothing.......
they already gave to the office of the bribes - it's called campaign contributions to not have negative publicity towards their building projects.
Message: Offer a bigger bribe, or just spend the money to conform to the regulations and the bribe is not necessary.
Now catch the other thousand who have been up to no good for years.
You'll find their trails in any community where overdevelopment has occured.
Heineken always seems to give me a headache.Anyone agree?
Just some natural selection...the dumb inspectors got caught; the smart ones continue to thrive.
how does a property owner who has been cited with a stop work order in august 2010, receive a hearing date in november 2010 and then get it extended until may of 2011 ???
in the meantime the property is a mess and eyesore on the residential street.
is this stall because of a bribe accepted by the d.o.b. officials ???
There has been irreparable damage to this city already in the last 10 years, no amount of wrist slapping at this point can undo the injustice to New York a city at this point.
Put Bloomberg in jail and this will finally stop.
How does the property owner who has been cited.......
You stupid ignorant slut, the cangaroo court, also known as ECB bends over backwards to allow this practice.
Once DOB issues violations, it goes there and has no control, you stupid ass hole.
all of these landlords are immigrants illegal or otherwise. they don't have to obey the law only Americans have to obey the law.
nice work, DOB. now, what about the rest of the landlords with defective certificates of occupancy?
seems like DOB is sleeping on the job. this seems like tiny fish. where's the big barracuda's?
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