Postmaster sent to prison

Press, 25 June 1981, Page 7

Postmaster sent to prison

■ A former postmaster at Lincoln convicted of forging 81 travel expense vouchers, involving $12,104. was sent to prison for 12 months when he appeared for sentence before Judge Fogarty in the District Court yesterday. In addition the Judge ordered Murray Ernest Dailey (Mr C. A. McVeigh), aged 30, to pay compensation in full to the Post Office. Offences of “white collar’’ crime such as was carried out by the defendant must be regarded as serious.

Contrary to the request of counsel the Judge said the Court had no option but to impose a custodial sentence.

The Judge said he had listened with care and attention to what Mr McVeigh had to say regarding penalties imposed in seven cases where offences of dishonesty had been dealt with bv the High Court.

He said it was proper and relevant to take these into account when dealing with Dailey.

Forgery was a serious crime and in Dailey’s case the amount involved had been large. Mr McVeigh said by what could only be described as “inexplicable conduct’’ his client had put a promising career and his marriage in serious jeopardy. “To say the future looks bleak for him would be a gross understatement,” said Mr McVeigh. He produced a number of references which testified to, and reinforced Dailey’s excellent conduct in relation to his family, his job, and to the community. Mr McVeigh drew the Court’s attention to how the High Court, in recent months, had dealt with offending by persons deemed to have been in positions of trust, and where penalties for offences

involving between $19,000 and $lOO,OOO had resulted in jail terms of nine months to three years being imposed. The one example more relevant to his client, Mr McVeigh said, was a union secretary convicted of stealing not less than $lO,OOO from his union, and sentenced to periodic detention for four months.

He asked that the defendant be dealt with by something short of a custodial sentence. Of the compensation sought; Mr McVeigh said this could and would be made in full. Dailey could not personally put his hand on $12,104 in cash, but had assets that could be realised. Mr McVeigh said his client's solicitor had already written to the Post Office with an offer to pay compen--sation. THEFT CHARGES Two men charged with stealing six coils of coppercoated wire, valued at $355, were each remanded on bail to July 1. No pleas were entered by Clive Peter Johnson, aged 18. unemployed, or Gavin Bruce Johnson, aged 20, a trainee weaver. Because of his non-appear-ance on the same charge, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Allan John Johnson, aged 25, unemployed. When asked by the Judge why Allan Johnson was not in the dock Sergeant C. J. Cole said he was in Australia. . The coils of wire were the property of the New Zealand Electricity Department. The alleged offence was said to have taken place on May 29. ARMS CHARGE A builder, aged 36, charged with unlawfully firing a .303 calibre rifle in a house in

Hackthorne Road on June 20, was remanded without plea to July 1. Interim suppression of the name of the defendant was continued as was bail of $2OOO. DAMAGE CHARGES Junior Te Metu, aged 20, unemployed, and Jack Kevin Paikea, aged 23, who appeared on a charge of wilful damage were each remanded without pleading to July 1. It is alleged that they, with others, damaged hotel glassware. mirrors, a juke box, and liquor, to the value of $596, the property of Adrian Jozef Ganzevles, bn June 11. Te Metu and Paikea are also charged with behaving in a disorderly manner in the Star and Garter Hotel the same day. In addition, Paikea is charged with the unlawful possession of a .303 calibre rifle on or about June 20. Shane Shannon Hamilton, aged 23, a sickness beneficiary, did not plead to one charge of receiving a .303 calibre rifle and another of unlawfully possessing the rifle. He was remanded on bail to July 1.