Spiros Pandelakis of Academic Systems fined $650,000 and given suspended jail term for fire safety infringements The Childers hostel fire. A BUDGET accommodation operator has copped a $650,000 fine and suspended jail term for not following fire safety regulations. Queensland Fire and Rescue Commissioner Lee Johnson said "serial offenders" Spiros Pandelakis and the company Academic Systems, of which he is a director, received the fine in Caboolture Magistrates Court. He said the Childers backpackes fire, where 15 people died, highlighted the dangers of non-compliance with that fire a result of overcrowding and unmaintained fire safety systems. "The magistrate yesterday sentenced Mr Pandelakis in regard to two charges of failing to comply with Commissioner's requisitions, which had been issued against two premises where illegal budget accommodation facilities were being operated," Mr Johnson said in a statement on Thursday. Mr Pandelakis was also sentenced in respect of a number of other charges related to those premises not being fitted with fire safety installations required under Queensland law for budget accommodation buildings. "The Magistrate imposed fines totalling $180,000 and four months imprisonment, wholly suspended for two years," he said. He said on February 18 matters against Academic Systems were held in court with a fine of more than $480,000 for offences at three locations that were found to be operating as illegal budget accommodation. Mr Johnson said Mr Pandelakis and his company were "serial offenders." Previously, the QFRS has initiated enforcement actions for offences at nine separate residential properties which were operating as illegal budget accommodation providers. In 2009, the QFRS successfully prosecuted the offender and his company for budget accommodation building offences. During this period, the offender was operating three residential properties whereby no fire safety requirements had been implemented. This included a suburban, three-bedroom residential home where 21 people resided and each paid $150 per week. Despite the action taken, the offender and his company have continued to disregard fire safety standards and operate unsafe budget accommodation buildings. Between 1 January, 2007 to 15 February, 2013 the QFRS has completed 2855 inspections at 1453 Budget Accommodation Buildings across the State. These inspections have resulted in the QFRS: Issuing 773 requisitions by the Commissioner under s69 of the Fire and Rescue Service Act 1990 (the Act), to reduce occupancy numbers to 5 or below; Issuing 209 Notices by the Commissioner under s104G of the Act to upgrade existing fire safety; Issuing 176 Infringement Notices for fire safety breaches in Budget Accommodation Buildings; and Completing 58 successful prosecutions for Budget Accommodation Building offences.