Boxer’s Conviction Set Aside

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31235, 6 December 1966, Page 3

Boxer’s Conviction Set Aside

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, December 5. A Tongan boxer, Sipa Fine, today had a conviction against him on a charge of being a prohibited immigrant set aside when he appeared before Mr M. C. Astley, S.M.

The Magistrate remanded Fine on bail until December 19 and if he has left the country on that date the information against him will be discharged.

Fine had applied for the rehearing of the charge. The Magistrate said he could not find any grounds for a rehearing. He said that although Fine’s permit expired in July, the Immigration Department had allowed him to remain in New Zealand for his son’s first birthday Which is later this month. This was subject to two grounds, the first being that Fine leave the country as soon as possible after the birthday and the second was that he behaved himself regarding his domestic obligations, about which the department had had some serious complaints. The Magistrate said that although it was a breach of the second grounds that had

caused Fine to be brought before the Court, he had since spoken to Mrs Fine and had been particularly impressed by her and her generous attitude towards her husband. It was possible that a conviction on the charge would adversely affect Fine’s boxing career.