Sentence for welfare fraud

Press, 16 July 1982, Page 5

Sentence for welfare fraud

A man who defrauded the Department of Social Welfare of $13,856 in unemployment benefits while working as a freezing worker, was sentenced to periodic detention for 10 months by Judge Hay in the District Court yesterday. The judge told Max Galvin Ireland, aged 45 (Mr P. J. Egden). that most taxpayers would expect him to receive a lengthy period of imprisonment for such a large fraud carried out over a lengthy 'period. The Judge said he was refraining from imposing such a sentence because of the defendant's physical condition and his son. However, he ordered Ireland to pay compensation in full to the department by an immediate payment of $2OOO and subsequent weekly payments of $4O a week. Counsel (Mr Egden) said that his client did not personally gain from the money obtained. It was clear the money was used by his wife who was an alcoholic. When the unemployment benefit was initially applied for it was perfectly legitimate in that -Ireland was out of work during the meat workers' off-season. It was Ireland’s wife who had subsequently filled in false declarations which his client had then signed. His client was. said Mr Egden. a silent spectator tohis own fraud. • He said that the wife, from whom Ireland was now divorced, was also to be charged with the offences but., had not, as vet, been caught. Ireland had denied three charges of defrauding the department, by. failing to notify; it that he was employed' in order to continue receiving the unemployment benefit. (Before Judge Frampton)

SMASH-AND-GRAB Two men who admitted converting cars which they subsequently used for two "smash-and-grab" burglaries were each convicted and remanded in custody to July 27 for probation reports, and sentence. They are Taka Manahura Matete, aged 29. unemployed (Mr J. S. Fairclough), and Murray Robert Latimer, aged 20. also unemployed (Ms E. H. Thompson). Sergeant G. G. Cleland said one car was taken from a car sales yard. It was driven by Matete to the Riccarton Road premises of Vision Hire, Ltd. where it was reversed into the window. Latimer went in and removed a video tape recorder, valued at $1795. The car was then driven back to the yard and Matete sold the recorder to a receiver. * Sergeant Cleland said compensation of $l2OO was sought in respect of the damaged window. The second vehicle converted by the pair was driven to the Barrington Mall shop of Noel Leeming. Ltd. where it was again reversed to smash plate glass doors. Two video tape recorders, valued at $4OOO, were taken. At Matete’s home the stolen property was hidden in the next-door neighbour's rubbish bag on the footpath. The two men were later apprehended by the police in a car in the inner city, said Sergeant Cleland. The damage to the second shop glass doors was .$lOOO and -compensation was sought. Matete told the police he could not find a job and needed money to support his family. Latimer told the police he owed a considerable amount

of money and that things just got on top of him. DISCHARGE A woman serving a life sentence for murder escaped from prison because she was in a situation of despair, said counsel (Mr D. J. Taffs). His client. Wikitoria Haviti, aged 25, who admitted escaping from Paparua Women’s Prison on June 2, was discharged by the Judge when she appeared for sentence. As the defendant was serving a life sentence he said there seemed little sense in adopting any other course. Mr Taffs said his client had formed a strong relationship with another inmate at the prison and when this person was released Haviti became depressed. BREAD THEFTS Two of three men charged with stealing 60 loaves of bread,. valued at $4O. were remanded without plea to July 22. They are Carl’ William Jones, aged 17, a factory worker, and Darryl James Munro, aged 18, unemployed, who were remanded at large. Rodney Douglas Melvin, aged 18, a footwear operator (Mr P. J. Egden), was re-

manded To August 25 for a defended hearing. It is alleged that the loaves, the property of Sucklings Food Market, were stolen on July 11. ESCAPERS ~ . Two men who admitted escaping, from a work party at Paparua at 9 a.m. hid under some bushes and did not leave the prison grounds until 6.30 p.m. the same day. said Sergeant G. G. Cleland. lan Davis, aged 31, and Manu Aperhana. Royal, aged 23, both represented by a duty solicitor (Mr S. G. Barker), were convicted and remanded in custody to July 23 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant Cleland said after leaving the prison grounds the two defendants made their way on foot to a derelict house in St Martins where they spent two nights. As a result of information received a search was made of the house and the pair were found hiding in the attic. They had a radio tuned into the police frequency. Royal also admitted and was convicted of having possession of cannabis. It was found in a sock and was for the defendant's own use, said Sergeant Cleland.