£40 FINE FOR SMUGGLING

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29778, 22 March 1962, Page 14

£40 FINE FOR SMUGGLING

Helping Sick Friend ( N.Z. Press Association) TIMARU, March 21. A fine of £4O was imposed on Keith Richard White, 25, a ship’s engineer, when he pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court at Timaru today to a charge of smuggling a transistor radio valued at £3O at Port Chalmers on March 16 Appearing for the Collector of Customs, Mr M C. Gresson, said the customs’ searcher at Port Chalme-s saw the defendant leave the motor-vessel Gothic with a parcel under his arm White said he was taking the radio ashore for a friend on board who was sick “This sort of offence is very difficult to detect," Mr Gresson said “The Collector of Customs has power to impose an immediate fine of up to £2O. although the usual amount is about £lO. but it was not considered appropriate to do that in this case ”

The defendant told the Magistrate. Mr N M Izard, that he was merely helping a sick friend

“It is unfortunate you were caught if those were the circumstances. but you will have to pay," '.he Magistrate said. White was also ordered to pay the solicitor’s fee < £3 3s) and costs <3os), and the forfeiture of the radio was ordered.