30 CHARGES OF THEFT

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29333, 12 October 1960, Page 14

30 CHARGES OF THEFT

Contractor In Court (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 11. Frederick Ernest Bognuda, aged 58, a contractor, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court at’Wellington today on 30 charges of theft and was remanded till October 17 by Mr J. S. Hanna, S.M. Bognuda was allowed bail—£2so in his own recognisance and a surety of a similar amount —on the application of Mr J. R. Marshall. The charges allege that between January, 1958, and' May, 1959, Bognuda stole sand valued at nearly £6OO, the property of the Government, the Wellington City Corporation and the Kilbirnie Carrying Company, Ltd. Hector John Langdon Wotten. an engineer, was charged with five breaches of the Secret Commissions Act, and remanded till October 17.

Wotten (Mr G. C. Kent) was granted bail on his own recognisance of £250. It was alleged that Wotten, “being an agent of the Ministry of Works did corruptly accept gifts from Frederick Ernest Bognuda as an inducement or reward for his showing favour to the firms of F. and J. Bognuda, Ltd., Bognuda, Adams and Blythe, Gravel Supplies, Ltd., and the Dry Creek Quarry Company, Ltd., in relation to the affairs or business of the Ministry of Works.” The charges against Wotten involve money and builders mix and cement of a total value of £631.