The head of a company that operated an Oshawa leathergoods store in Canada has been fined $23,500 after the company failed to remit $58,636 in provincial sales tax (PST) collected from customers between December 1999 and November 2003.

Setrak Dekirmendjian of Richmond Hill, sole officer and director of Carina Leather Goods Limited, pleaded guilty on April 19 in the Ontario Court of Justice to a charge of directing or participating in the company's failure to remit PST.

Justice of the Peace Allison Forestall fined Mr Dekirmendjian $23,500 and granted him six months to pay. He must also pay a surcharge of $4,700 to the Ontario Victims' Justice Fund. In addition to fines and surcharges, businesses convicted of PST offences are liable to repay any taxes owing, plus negligence penalties and interest.