Charges not made against Russians

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33815, 11 April 1975, Page 1

Charges not made against Russians

(.\ew Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. April 10. ” Police have averted diplomatic embarrassment b\ declining to press shoplifting charges against members of the touring Soviet entertainment troupe.

Three girl performers in the “Russian Spectacular” group were intercepted in High Street, Lower Hutt, on Tuesday with goods from McKenzie’s store. One girl disappeared while the police heard the allega-

(tions of the store detective and manager. The other two were taken ito the Lower Hutt police station, but no charges were laid. Chief Superintendent A. I. Knapp, commander of the Wellington police district, confirmed tonight that the incident had been referred to him. He refused to specify the grounds for not laying charges. Misunderstandings often arose with foreign visitors, he said. “But that’s not the case here.” The store manager, Mr H. IK. Taylor, said he called the [ police after his shop detec- ' tive reported suspicious behaviour by a group of five ; women. The woman had left the premises when the police arrived. Walked off ( Two girls walked off, but 1 the rest were intercepted and I escorted back to the. store. I Pantyhose, scarves, a shower cap. nail polish, and erasers from the shop were allegedly found in their possession. One girl then offered money, Mr Taylor said. The goods, worth $lO to $l5, were handed back. Left store The girl who had offered I ' the money left the store. The • other two were identified as I members of the “Russian I ’Spectacular” troupe, and' were taken by car to the Lower Hutt police station. Later, Mr Taylor was told there was insufficient evi-

dence to lay charges against the girls. “I wasn’t surprised.” he said. “But I bet if they had been Americans or English, they wouldn’t have got away' with it.” ”\o business” At the Wellington Opera' House, where the troupe per-1 ffirmed this evening, Miss i Christine Edglev. a principal if the promoting company, I said she had not heard of the j 'ncident, and doubted whe-' her is had happened. "If it did it could have been i misunderstanding,” she 1 laid. “And it wouldn’t be any. business of yours.” The Soviet Embassy’s in-1 urination officer. Mr Oleg Tenyukh, said: "I have never! teard of it. 1 think it is just ' a rumour.” j