Man in court for wearing medal

Press, 25 January 1979, Page 7

Man in court for wearing medal

PA Auckland The wearing of military decorations and medals without authority carried a maximum penalty of three months jail, said the Otahuhu police when asked why a man was arrested for wearing a war service medal he had found on a rubbish tip. The Magistrate’s Court at Otahuhu was told that the man. aged 29, had not replied when asked if he had served in the Korean War, which ended almost 26 years ago. Mr T. R. Giilies, S.M., convicted and discharged the man, who had admitted wearing a medal without authority. He ordered

that the medal be forfeited to the Crown.

Sergeant L. Ohms said that the offence had obviously been regarded seriously by the legislators who provided the jail penalty. The police were under a moral obligation to enforce the law and could not choose which laws to enforce. Section 31 of the Police Offences Act says that it is an offence to wear any military decoration without authority. Proof of authority lies on the defendant, the act says. The definition of military decoration excludes ordinary regimental badges or ornaments such as a badge, but includes badges of rank.