Assignee to seek action against bankrupt

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32967, 13 July 1972, Page 11

Assignee to seek action against bankrupt

The Official Assignee (Mr I. A. Hansen) told a meeting of creditors yesterday that he intended to refer to the Crown Solicitor, with a view to prosecution, aspects of the bankruptcy of Jacob Jochems, aged 44, a carpenter, of Wattle Drive. Mr Jochems said he had debts of $22,861 and assets of $11,683. He had incurred the debts while trading as J.J. Builders. His statement of affairs showed 25 unsecured creditors for $21,298. Mr Jochems gave as the causes of his bankruptcy inadequate quotations, contracts taking too long, and inability to recover all building costs. He said he had been a principal of a company, Burwood Builders, Ltd, which had gone into voluntary liquidation. He had also had

a dairy at New Brighton, which had also failed. Asked by a creditor whether he had, after attending a meeting which established his insolvency, gone to another firm and purchased materials with which he had built a garage at his own home, Mr Jochems said he could not remember whether the meeting had established that he was insolvent or whether he had bought the materials after the meeting. Mr Jochems agreed that he had failed to disclose that a savings account in his wife’s name existed. Mr Hansen said he had seized from the bankrupt’s home items of furniture, a typewriter, and plant and plant and equipment worth $5OO.

The meeting agreed that Mr Hansen be authorised to sell the goods by private treaty at his discretion.