Slumlord Begins 300-Day Sentence

ANAHEIM — An apartment owner described as Anaheim’s most notorious slumlord has begun serving a 300-day jail sentence, the toughest ever handed down for building code violations in this city.

Amrit K. Bhandari, 59, convicted five times since 1989 for failure to keep his rental properties up to Anaheim code standards, was supposed to begin his jail term two years ago today.. But he remained free until he finally exhausted his appeals.

Bhandari, who has owned or managed nearly a dozen apartment buildings in Anaheim, had pleaded guilty in 1993 to a misdemeanor violation of city codes, which included inadequate plumbing, vermin infestation and other deteriorating conditions. He was placed on probation on the condition that he not let his properties fall below city code standards.

Three years later, Bhandari was back in court, accused again of operating slums throughout the city. He admitted that he had violated terms of his probation. In a compromise to stay out of jail, Bhandari agreed that he would no longer own or manage any properties within Anaheim.

Bhandari’s attorney Hall said he will appeal his client’s case in federal court.