Prison term for fraud

Press, 6 August 1981, Page 9

Prison term for fraud

PA Auckland A former sharebrokers ?lerk who fraudulently converted cheques to his own use has been sentenced to line months imprisonment.

Wrey Harvey Chalmers, aged 51, of Kohimaramara. appeared before Judge Aubin in the District Court at Auckland.

Chalmers had previously pleaded guilty to two charges .that having received from Winstone; Ltd, a cheque for $12,000 and from Atlas Majestic Industries. Ltd. a cheque for $2OOO. on terms requiring him to pay the proceeds to two persons, he converted the proceeds to his own use and committed theft. He admitted a further two charges that about May 26, 1980, having received from Farmers Trading Company a cheque for $1926 and between August 3, 1979. and March 20 of this year, having received from client companies of the Bank of New Zealand share registry cheques totalling $7968 on terms requiring him to account for the proceeds to the

companies, he fraudulently converted the proceeds tq his own use and commmftted theft. '

Chalmers pleaded guilty to six further charges of foiling security transfer forms) for shares by signing what (purported to be the signature of the sellers. 1 Mr Graham Hubble,"for the defendant, said siat Chalmers was appearing; in court for the first tiine' in what had been an exemplary life. ‘ ( '

He said that when Hhe defendant was as the manager of the Bank of New Zealand share registry in 1975 he was told that he was expected to make it ( run at a profit. The strain of the work told on Chalmers and he Succumbed to the pressure, 'in some measure. ’; ■

In sentencing the defeyulant. the Judge said that (thfe offences had not been impulsive. He could not overlook the scale of the offending, amounting to more tbati $24,000. or the length of tinne over which it occurred. |