CONTRABAND RADIOS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29713, 5 January 1962, Page 14

CONTRABAND RADIOS

Five Seamen Convicted (N.Z. Pres* Association) TAURANGA, Jan. 4. Five Japanese, two of them members of the crew of the Ocean Pride, the other three crew members of the Chepo. were fined a total of £l3O on charges brought by the Customs Department* in the Magistrate's Court at Tauranga today. Before Mr G. J. Donne. S.M.. were Chan Yee Shing. Chan X Choy, Lam Yui Shui. Li Wing Kat and Chan Yuk Pan. All except Chan Choy were charged with being in possession of dutiable or restricted goods, and all except Chan Yuk Pan were fined £25. costs £1 10s, the minimum penalty. All the charges related to transistor radios which were found in raids made on the vessels on December 28. Chan Yuk Pan. who had five radios, was fined £3O. Chan Yee Shing and Lam Yui Shui each had two radios and Li Wing Kat had one. Chan Choy was charged with making an erroneous declaration concerning a radio in his possession. After observing that the fines were equal to two months’ pay for the offenders. the Magistrate said: “I think someone else is doing this. They are pushing these radio* into the country.” There were too many radios finding their way into New Zealand.