TICO charges multiple agents, convicts one

The Travel Industry Council of Ontario has convicted one travel agent and charged several more under the provincial Travel Industry Act.

Maria Ellen Galorport of Budget Travel and Tours plead guilty and has been convicted of one count of carrying on business with Maria Rowena Santiago Belen, who operated as a travel agent without registration. Galorport operated as a travel agent registered under the Act, but voluntarily terminated her registration effective Sept. 30, 2014.

She was sentenced to pay a fine of $8,000, plus a victim surcharge fee, for a total of $10,000. Galorport was given one year to pay the fine.

TICO has also charged the following individuals for operating as agents without registration. All are based in Toronto and operated throughout Ontario. They will appear in provincial court throughout July:

- Elizabeth Sampson-Holder (eight counts)

- Judy Jackson (one count)

- Alicia Kielek (24 counts)

- Rollah Zahir (one count)

- Ghulam Mustafa Wahabi (one count)

- Esna Travel and Tours, Shahrukh Teherany and Suraiya Teherany - one count each of carrying on business with Rollah Zahir, who was required to be registered as a travel agent. Esna Travel is a travel agent registered under the Act.