Issue Date:  -  Monday, 29 January 2001

Model promoter and photographer Peter Holz convicted

Westfield model promoter and photographer Peter Holz, trading as IFMO-Profoto was today convicted of misleading conduct under the Fair Trading Act and fined a total of $6000 plus costs of $4000 and ordered to pay restitution of $1825 to three of his victims.

The Ministry of Fair Trading charged Mr Holz in June 2000 with five counts of making misleading statements about the availability of employment.

The convictions relate to five young women, one as young as 13, who had paid IFMO-Profoto for prosective modelling assignments and acting jobs in America, Greece and Australia that never eventuated.

Fair Trading Commissioner Patrick Walker said "The Fair Trading Act prohibits a person from making false statements about employment. Where a person makes a statement about a future matter, the Act requires that person to prove that there were reasonable grounds for believing the statement to be true.

"In this case Mr Holz was unable to produce a record of obtaining work for any model. Now we know that it was a scam pitched at a vunerable section of the community" Mr Walker said.

In his decision Magistrate Peter Malone SM said that Mr Holz was not a credible witness and used "dubious tactics" in how he dealt with his customers.

Mr Walker said "In view of these convictions, I am considering a injuction to restrain Mr Holz from engaging in any further deceptive conduct of this nature"

"Modelling is a competitive industry so you should always check the credentials of anyone offering modelling or promotional work before signing anything," Mr Walker said.