Betting Syndicate’s Winnings Taken

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31576, 13 January 1968, Page 32

Betting Syndicate’s Winnings Taken

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 12. John Timothy Porteous, aged 41, a claims clerk, had taken $1148.73 of a betting syndicate’s winnings instead of placing it in a special bank account, the Wellington Magistrate’s Court was told today.

Porteous pleaded guilty that between March 31 and December 18, 1967, having received from David Wilkie Inglis and others, money totalling $1148.73 on terms requiring him to account for the sum, he fraudulently omitted to account for or pay it, committing theft. Detective Senior-Sergeant W. A. R. Galbraith said that Porteous was a member of a syndicate with eight others. Each week bets would be placed on horses with each member paying $2. Any winnings were to be put in a special savings bank account. Porteous was in charge of the records, and two other members were trustees.

Just before Christmas the trustees, expecting there to be $1293.11 in the account, decided it should be divided equally among the members of the syndicate. Only $192.85 was found in the account by tbe trustees. Porteous had frankly admitted the offence, and he had made full restitution, said Detective Senior-Sergeant Galbraith. Porteous was remanded by Mr M. B. Scully, S.M., to January 13 for sentence.