Banker admits theft

Press, 18 July 1979, Page 4

Banker admits theft

PA New Plymouth A bank executive has admitted theft and forgery charges involving a total of $80,984 in the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Court. Michael Joseph Brookes, aged 30, assistant branch manager of the Taranaki Savings Bank in New Ply-

mouth, and former manager I of the Inglewood branch of the bank, admitted seven charges of theft as a servant and 14 charges - of forging withdrawal receipts. He appeared before Mr J. W. Dalmer, S.M. The charges of theft as a servant related to a total of $39,500 taken from seven different accounts at. Inglewood and New Plymouth between January 12 and May 14 this year. Sergeant R. D. Richardson

said the police had received; a complaint from the gen-' eral manager of the bank on June 29 and an extensive police inquiry had begun. He said the police had discovered that a total of; $39,500 had been taken through manipulation of various accounts. A further $41,484.60 had been interfered with and transferred between various accounts by the use of forged withdrawal slips. When arrested. Brookes admitted the thefts and told the police he had begun taking money in 1968. Sergeant Richardson said Brooks had made false entries in manual and computer records. He had re-1 cently kept records of the I accounts he had operated on,| but could not even remember the names of the!

i account-holders he had stollen from in the past. Much of the money now missing had been used to repay money into other accounts he had used pre- ■ viously. Sergeant Richardson said Brookes had told the police it had always been his intention to pay back the money from his salary. Brookes had used the money to pay for his atemodei car, for furnitur md general living md to pay for holidays. , When arrested, he had told police the burden had become so great that he was almost relieved to be caught. Brookes was convicted on; all charges and remanded, until July 23 for a probation officer's-report and sentence. Bail was set at $5OOO with a; surety for $5OOO.