Travel firm in court

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32957, 1 July 1972, Page 3

Travel firm in court

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 30. An Auckland travel firm and its director were charged in the Auckland Magistrate’s Court today with the misappropriation of more than 812,000. Brian Herbert Walter Jefford, aged 50, married, a ;company director, of Belimont, faces 20 charges and [his company, World Wide Travel Bonds, Ltd, Auckland, faces 20 charges. j They are represented by ! Mr P. I. Finnigan in the hearing before Messrs A. R. Gorbev and A. H. Turner, J.P.S. ' The charges relate to cash and cheques allegedly paid to Jefford and the company between April 1, 1971, and Maj' 9 this year for 29 fares by the 20 complainants.

The money was for oneway and return fares to London, Amsterdam, Samoa, Melbourne, Canada, Los , Angeles, Sydney and Brisbane. Sums paid varied from $2405 to $3O. ; Senior-Sergeant R. V. Downie said evidence would ' be that the money was received by Jefford while he was running World Wide Travel Bonds, Ltd, in Queen Street. The police alleged Jefford received this money from clients under the specific directions that it be used for the purpose of their own travel, but that it was used in a manner contrary to directions. The complainants would give evidence of paying money and cheques to World! Wide Travel Bonds and would: say that their travel tickets were not supplied and no refunds were paid. These witnesses would say they believed their money would;

earn interest but that they gave no authority for their money to be invested for any purpose, other than travel. Evidence would also be heard from travel consultants concerning orders made by Jefford for tickets which were later cancelled because of non-payment. Jefford had not previously appeared before the court. A girl, whose name was suppressed, said she worked for Jefford as a travel consultant and $2BO that she received from a Mr Fraser was split up into wages because it was pay day. “I asked why deposits had not been made on charter flights to Los Angeles and he told me not to bother because we would meet the cost and 'send them full fare.” I “At one time my pay cheque bounced.” The hearing will continue.