MAGISTRATE’S COURT STUDENT CONVICTED OF THEFT TO RETURN TO OWN COUNTRY

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31587, 26 January 1968, Page 20

MAGISTRATE’S COURT STUDENT CONVICTED OF THEFT TO RETURN TO OWN COUNTRY

The accused had suffered extreme remorse and there was concern among the police and the university authorities that be might try to commit suicide, said Mr L. M. O’Reilly, counsel for Pee Tian Cho, aged 23, a student, who appeared for sentence in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday on 19 charges of theft involving radio and record equipment, clothing, toilet items, magazines, ornaments and Christmas cards to a total value of $1771.18 between May 1 and December 15, 1967. Mr K. H. J. Headifen, S.M., was on the bench. Pee came from a very good home and had a clear record before coming to New Zealand. This was his second year away from home and he had difficulty adjusting to the way of life in New Zealand, said Mr O’Reilly. The offences resulted from his state of health and psychiatric problems. His landlady said he was subject to bouts of extreme depression. He also had physical and personal problems. Neither the science course which Pee initially took at the university, nor the mechanical engineering course to which he changed, suited him, said Mr O’Reilly. His problems snow-balled and Pee “went downhill” and he developed a real obsession for the items, of which he had no real need. Because of the publicity the charges brought, Pee was going to suffer shame. He was aware of having failed his family—his brother had supported him over the last two years—and that he had let his fellow students from Malaysia down. The best solution was to let him return home and face his family who wanted to pay his fare back

rather than let him be deported, said Mr O’Reilly. The Magistrate said most of the goods had been recovered. The offences deserved a substantial term of imprisonment, but justice would be best served if “we get you out of New Zealand as soon as possible. “I want to say publicly that most, if not all the young people who come here from Malaysia and the surrounding areas have been honest and. trustworthy,” he said. Pee was remanded in custody until February 1 to enable counsel to obtain Pee’s ticket back to Malaysia. "If the air ticket arrives earlier, he will be released to return,” said the Magistrate. 12 MONTHS' GAOL He was gravely concerned that burglars In Christchurch were directing their attentions towards private homes rather than commercial premises, and he proposed to do his utmost to protect the public, the Magistrate said when sentencing Samuel Raha, aged 33, a driver (Mr K. N. Hampton), to 12 months' imprisonment on a charge of burglary of a house in Fitzgerald Avenue on December I, 1967. "This strikes at the heart of the community, at the private home,” the Magistrate said. Had Raha not already spent eights weeks in custody the sentence would have been much more severe, the Magistrate said. Mr Hampton said Raha had been to some extent under the influence of liquor at the time. He had kept out of serious trouble for two years. "You are beyond rehabilitation—you are what used to be called a habitual criminal," the Magistrate told Raha. He did not accept any explanation that liquor was the cause of the offence. “You are an experienced criminal —you’ll get no consideration from me." FINED 983 Fines totalling 385 were imposed on Raymond William Baker, aged 33, ah electroplater, who pleaded guilty to two

charges of assaulting his wife and one charge of wilful damage to a glass door on November 15, 1967, and one charge of carelessly using a car on July 24, 1967. Mr J W. Dalmer appeared for Baker. Senior-Sergeant B. D. Read said that Baker went to his wife’s address about 3.20 p.m. and after an argument, threw her to the floor after putting his hands round her throat. He then jumped on her while the four-year-old daughter watched, but made off when his wife screamed. About 9 p.m. he returned and smashed the glass in the front door. The complainant and her friend locked themselves in the bathroom and Baker attempted to break in but a neighbour Intervened. The complainant collapsed and was in a severe state of shock. Baker was extremely violent when the police came and he had been drinking. He had been convicted of assault in 1967, saio Senior-Sergeant Read. Mr Dalmer said that two days before the incident. Baker, who had been in hospital in Nelson when his wife had told him thal their marriage had finished, had minded the baby for her and it was arranged that he should do so again on the Wednesday—the day of the offences. However, on that day, he had been told "rather peremptorily" that he was not needed. “The second assault was technical—fortunately through the intervention of a neighbour,” said Mr Dalmer. He was arrested and taken to Sunnyside Hospital. The careless driving charge was unrelated to the other offences, said Mr Dalmer. The Magistrate when imposing the sentence said that Baker could not take his liquor, but he still persisted. YEARS IMPRISONMENT A year s imprisonment was Imposed on Francis Colin Stevens, aged 31, unemployed, on each of six charges of obtaining credit by fraud at' six Christchurch hotels over a period of almost 12 weeks up to Januaty 9. The sentences are to be concurrent. Stevens had previously been convicted of incurring debts amounting to 3570.81 at the Clarendon Hotel, in which he stayed for 10 days, the New Railway

Hotel (13 days), Cokers (21 days), the Dominion (10 days), the Zetland (13 days), and Warners (13 days). “You are apparently one of those who likes the better things in life without paying for them,” said the Magistrate. In 1966, Stevens had been imprisoned for forgery and uttering and was on probation at the time of the latest offences, said the Magistrate. A further charge of failing to comply with the provisions of probation was adjourned until February 1. PROBATION Peter John Bennett, aged 17. unemployed, was placed on pro bation for a year and a half and ordered to make restitution of $2O when he appeared for sentence on two charges of false pretences involving cheques cashed at shons on December 2, 1967. and December 7, 1967. Bennett had previously been convicted of obtaining by false pretences cigarettes and money to a value of $lO from the Waiau Milk Bar, and yesterday he pleaded guilty to obtaining $lO in money from the Seven Day Food Supply by false pretences. Senior-Sergeant Read said a cheque presented by Bennett to the shop on December 2 had been returned as there was no account. When Bennett was interviewed he said he had stolen two cheques from a person who was boarding at his home. The Magistrate ordered Bennett to work and live where directed and to open a savings account. “You will get no further chances,” said the Magistrate. STOLE $2490 A woman who pleaded guilty to a charge of theft of $2490.31 in money while a servant of the Post Office was convicted and remanded on bail to February 1. She was represented by Mr J. N. Matson, and was granted interim suppression of name. Senior-Sergeant Read said the thefts had been committed between September. 1964, and December, 1967. All the money had been repaid. Defendant’s explanation had been that she did not need the money but “could not help herself.” STOLE CARDIGAN Rene Tamaki Tumahai, aged 29, unemployed, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a cardi-

gan valued at $l3 on Januarv 24 and was convicted and fined $3O. Senior-Sergeant Read said Tumahai had picked up a cardigan when in the shop of the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-opera-tive Association of Canterbury. Ltd, and had walked out with it across his shoulders. He had later admitted taking it. He stole the garment ”on the spur of the moment,” because he was cold. Tumahai said. SHOPLIFTING Eileen Alice Kiddie, aged 2.3 (Mr K. N. Hampton), pleaded guilty to stealing food valued at 35c from Garden City Super market. Ltd, and was fined $l5. The offence occurred on November 6, 1967. A fine of $2O was imposed on Wendy Patricia Bush, aged 22, a machinist, who pleaded guilty to stealing goods worth $2.79 from the Self-Help. Ltd. Sydenham, on December 1, 1967. FOUR CHARGES “I doubt if you should have a driving licence at all.” the Magistrate told Brian Leslie Wendt, aged 19, unemployed, when he appeared for sentence on four driving charges. On a charge of driving whil»* disqualified, Wendt was placed on probation for 18 months, and his period of disqualification was extended by one year to May 4. 1970. Special terms of his probation were that he should live and work where directed, and that he should not own or have any interest in any motorvehicle. On a charge of driving an unlicensed vehicle he was fined $lO, on a charge of having no warrant of fitness he was fined $6, and on a charge of offering an unauthorised licence he was ordered to pay costs of $5. Wendt’s previous driving record was shaking, the Magistrate said. THREE CHARGES Bruce Paul Williams, aged 17, a freezing worker, was fined a total of $3O when he was convicted on charges of failing to stop for a red traffic light at the corner of Hereford and Colombo Streets, carelessly using a car on Hereford Street, and failing to produce his driver’s licence. All offences occurred on October 23, 1967. Williams pleaded not guilty to the first charge and guilty to the other two.

LIQUOR CHARGES Michael Geoffrey Stanley, aged 18. a student (Mr A. N. Mao Lean) pleaded guilty to a charge of peing a minor found in a bar, and a charge of purchasing liquor while a minor. Stanley was fined $6 on the first charge, and $3 on the sec ond. Minor found in lounge bar of hotel: Brian Timothy Guthrie, $lO (minor purchased liquor, $5). TRAFFIC CHARGES Traffic prosecutions with convictions entered (court costs $5 on each charge) were: Failed to give way: Marion Geekie, $l5: Peter Hawarth Graham, $l5. Failed to give way at giveway sign: Murray James MeNichol, $l5. Careless driving: Euan Benjamin Wilkinson, $2O. No driver’s licence: Barry James Whear, $6 (parked in prohibited area, $4). (Before Mr W. F. Brown, S.M.) DISQUALIFIED DRIVER Brian Andrew, aged 17, a workman, was remanded on bail until February 5 for a probation report and sentence when he pleaded guilty and was convicted of driving while disqualified and carelessly using a motor vehicle on January 4. Traffic Officer R. E Little said that about 11.30 p.m. Andrew was driving behind a taxi tn High Street when he raised his lights to full beam. The taxi turned into Madras Street and pulled to the left, but the defendant did not pass. On Moorhouse Avenue. Andrew moved up on the left hand side of the taxi and he put his head out of the window and looked inside. Both cars were then travelling at a walking pace. In Waltham Road, the taxi kept to the left, and the defendant’s car moved up on the outside but again did not pass, and the passenger put his head out and looked into the taxi. The taxi driver stopped because he was carrying a 14-year-old schoolgirl whom he did not want to endanger. Andrew accelerated down Carlyle Street and the taxi continued into Shakespeare Road. Andrew drove up behind the taxi and collided with it at speed. Noone was injured. On being questioned by a

traffic officer. Andrew first said his friend was driving as he (Andrew) was disqualified. He then admitted that he was the driver and said he thought he knew the girl in the taxi and followed to get a better look. On December 5, 1967, Andrew had been disqualified for three months for driving without a licence, said Traffic Officer Little. CARELESS USE Rohan David Hook, aged 22, a fireman, was fined 320 and disqualified for two months when he was convicted of carelessly using a motor vehicle in Fitzgerald Avenue on August 25. Hook, who pleaded not guilty, was represented by Mr G. W. Alexander. FINED 324 Denis Francis McLean, aged 58, retired (Mr P. F. Temperoi, was convicted and lined 312 on a charge of failing to give way at the intersection of Montreal Street and Oxford Terrace on August 29. He pleaded guilty. On a further charge of driving in Oxford Terrace on August 29 without a driver's licence, the defendant was convicted and fined 312. He pleaded guilty to the second charge.