Gambler stole $51,790

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32524, 6 February 1971, Page 3

Gambler stole $51,790

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Feb. 5. “I accept that you are a pathological gambler and for that you will get appropriate medical treatment,” the Chief Justice (Sir Richard Wild) told a solicitor in the Supreme Court in Wellington today. His Honour was sentencing Werren David Sisarich, aged 30, to four years gaol on 14 charges of theft from his clients by failing to account for sums totalling $51,790. Sisarich pleaded guilty to the charges in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.

Counsel for Sisarich, Mr G. C. Kent, said he was conscious of the great public interest in the case and that the image of an honourable profession had gathered some tarnish, but there was also an element of personal tragedy. “Like alchoholic” Sisarich had been on the threshold of a very promising career, but one facet or weakness of character seemed to have dominated his whole life.

Since a teen-ager he had had a passion for gambling, which had become progressively worse until it was out ot control. He had likened himself to an alcoholic with his compulsive urge for gambling which resulted in & general break-

down of will power and social conscience.

His Honour said be believed that Sisarich now realised the depth of the tragedy, but he felt bound in the public in-te-ast to mention in outline what he had done. The $51,790 had been stolen over a period of two years and was made up of sums ranging from $lOOO to $8264. The method in the main had been by fictitious mortgages, false accounting and bogus investments. Friends hurt The immediate victims had been clients including a religious benefit society and a man who lost two-thirds of the, compensation paid to him. Others were his friends and professional colleagues, including the practitioner who had taken him into partnership only a few months before he began his thefts. Nearly all the money involved had gone on horse racing and cards.

His Honour said he would take into account Sisarich’s comparative youth and family circumstances and the fact that he had made the disclosure voluntarily. On the other hand, regard had to be made to the amount involved, the number of people affected and the length of time over which the offences took place. Mr J. H. C. Larsen appeared for the Crown.