An Adelaide driving instructor who "compromised public safety" by accepting bribes in exchange for guaranteeing learner drivers a pass in their tests has been spared jail.
Sorin Mihai, 60, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of abuse of public office and bribery of a public officer.
South Australia's District Court heard Mihai accepted money to guarantee a pass in the Vehicle On Road Test (VORT) on 13 occasions over an 18-month period.
"Your offending involved ignoring breaches of the road rules, assisting learner drivers throughout the test so they completed the necessary tasks and failing to undertake any test at all," Judge Ian Press said.
Mihai became a driving instructor in 2007, before studying to become an examiner and running a driving school until his arrest in 2017.
During sentencing, Judge Press said Mihai charged up to $350 for a test and promised to pass students who "were not entitled to a pass".
"Part of your motivation for commencing your offending was your sympathy for some of the offenders who had paid substantial amounts of money after continuously failing the tests," Judge Press said.
"You were clearly aware of your reputation and that people would contact you."
Judge Press said Mihai had no criminal history but had "a sense of shame and embarrassment" from his crimes.
He sentenced the father-of-one to one year, 10 months and 25 days in prison, with a non-parole period of one year and one month.
But Judge Press suspended Mihai's sentence due to his age, lack of prior criminal history, ailing health and the "lessons he had learnt".
Mihai entered a two-year good behaviour bond and is required to undertake 60 hours of community service work.
