CHARGES AGAINST TWO MEN

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24632, 31 July 1945, Page 6

CHARGES AGAINST TWO MEN

* ACCEPTANCE OF BRIBE ALLEGED \(P,A.) AUCKLAND, July 30. Two Inspectors employed by the Rationing Controller, Joseph Walshaw Harvey, aged 58, and Anthony Lockery, aged 30, stood trial before Mi Justice Cornish to-day, on charges of accepting a bribe to interfere with the due administration of iustlce. There were three counts in the indictment, which referred to events that were alleged to have taken place at Herekino. North Auckland, on June 29 and 30. The first count charged the accused with demanding by menaces £SO from Steven Lunjevlch. storekeeper. The second alleged that, being public officers employed for the detection of offenders, they accepted a bribe of £SO to Interfere corruptly with the administration of justice, and the third alleged that they had attempted to obtain such a bribe. For the prosecution Mr G. S. R. Meredith said the charges were alternative, and the Crown did not ask for a conviction on more than one The accused were rationing inspectors, employed to administer the food control regulations. The complainant was Steve Lunjevlch, partner in a general store at Herekino, who was visited by the two accused on June 29. They introduced themselves as rationing inspectors, and after checking over his stock they told him he was 44 bags of sugar short. Lockery said this was a very s*brlous matter, and that a storekeeper in Wellington had been fined £2OO and sent to gaol for two months for a similar offence Further inquiry reduced the shortage to 25 bags. Trap Set by Police The accused told Lunjevich that the only way the matter, could be fixed up was by his paying them money to square two men higher up. Lockery suggested £IOO. and Lunjevlch said he would have to see his boss. Later £SO was agreed upon, and Lunjevich thereupon went off to see his solicitor at Kaitala. The police were communicated with and a trap was set. When the accused returned to the store next day Sergeant Harrington and Constable Molloy were concealed In the store, and they accosted the accused as they were leaving with £SO that, by arrangement, Lunjevich had handed over to them. * Mr Meredith said such charges, fortunately, were very unusual, and Government emoloyees were almost universally honest. However, during war time there had been a tremendous increase in Government officials, and this necessarily meant a greater possibility of unscrupulous and unsuitable men being employed. It was suggested that In this case they had come unon two such men. Steve Milan Lunjevich, partner in a general store at Herekino. gave evidence on the lines cf counsel's statement. After further evidence the hearing was adjourned.