Woman jailed for welfare payment frauds

Press, 17 April 1980, Page 7

Woman jailed for welfare payment frauds

A punch card operator, i who obtained $4035 she was not entitled to from the Department of Social Welfare, was sent to prison for six months' when she appeared for sentence before Judge Palmer in the District Court yesterday. Matehuria Ngaroma Kingi had earlier pleaded guilty to three charges of making misleading statements to an officer of the Department of Social Welfare, and to four charges of using duplicate social welfare payment orders to obtain a pecuniary advantage. ' ■' , 7 The offences occurred between 1977 and 1979. The Judge'said the frauds were sustained over an appreciable period of time. While accepting that Kingi was virtually a first offender,- the offences were of a great magnitude, he said. It was fundamental that when someone committed offences of the magnitude the defendant had against the public purse a deterrent sentence must be imposed, the Judge said. There was a great call on welfare state funds at present by people with legitimate needs without the system being abused.

Because of the prison term imposed, the Judge said he made no order for compensation. Counsel (Mr N. C. Chapman) said at the time of committing the offences Kingi had been under considerable family and financial pressures which she had been unable to cope with. Kingi had to deal with debts after her husband was sent to prison. ■ Most of the money she had obtained as a result of her offending was used to pay off accumulated bills and to support her husband’s family, Mr Chapman said.

He submitted that had his client received some assistance or counselling . at the time then the offence's might not have occurred. DRUNK IN COURT

“Your behaviour in this courtroom this morning was disgraceful,” the Judge told Elizabeth Jamieson Pauling. Pauling aged 21, a domestic cleaner, had pleaded guilty to being found drunk in the District Court yesterday morning and of using obscene language in the courtroom.

Sergeant J. J. Chadderton said the defendant, together with an associate, had entered the No. 1 courtroom, which was in session, in a drunken condition.

When spoken to by a policewoman she had used the language complained of. In explanation Pauling said she had been at a party the previous night and had had one or two drinks early yesterday morning. Counsel (Mr G. D. Horne) said his client had not long been released from prison, and that she acknowledged a difficulty with alcohol.

The Judge said that bearing .in mind the time spent by. Pauling in custody since mid-morning, she would be convicted and fined $2O on the drunkenness charge and $4O on the charge of .using obscene language.

On a further charge of stealing a.handbag and contents, valued at $67, she was remanded on bail to June 3 for a defended hearing.

The associate, Tursha Anne Smith, aged 19, an unemployed masseuse, was remanded on bail to April 30 without plea. She is charged with being found drunk in the District Court.