American couple admit credit card offences
PA Auckland An American couple have admitted charges relating to the use of stolen credit cards in various parts of New Zealand. The husband and wife appeared separately before Judge Gilbert in the District Court at Auckland. They are Robert Lawrence Litawa. aged 51. a print broker, and Joanne Gayle Litawa. aged 47. a travel agent, both of Walnut Creek. California. Robert Litawa pleaded guilty to 35 charges of using a credit card with intent to defraud. Joanne Litawa pleaded guilty to nine charges of using a credit card with intent to defraud. Sergeant R. G. Robertson said that in respect to Robert Litawa there were two different series of offences. On March 21 Robert Litawa entered New Zealand with an associate, who had a stolen Mastercard credit card, drawn on an Arizona bank. The card had been stolen from the mail service earlier in March. It was used in the first series of offences. Sergeant Robertson said that on December 30 Robert and Joanne Litawa and two others entered New Zealand. One of the associates had two stolen Visa cards drawn on an Arisona bank. They had been stolen from the postal service in November. On February 15 this year Robert Litawa was spoken to by the police. He admitted using the cards and that his associate had dishonestly obtained them from another
person. He said he had no need to do it. Restitution of $947 was sought in relation to one card and $lOBO in relation to the other, payable to the New Zealand agents for the complainants. Sergeant Robertson said that Joanne Litawa was spoken to by the police on January 29. She admitted using the card' and knowing it had been unlawfully obtained before she used it.
She said she had not even wanted to use the card but had been "talked into it." Restitution of $l5l was sought, payable to the NewZealand agent for the complainant. Judge Gilbert convicted Robert Litawa and remanded him in custody for sentence. He convicted Joanne . Litawa and remanded her on $lO,OOO bail for a report and sentence. She was ordered to report to the police daily.
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Press, 25 February 1983, Page 4
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363American couple admit credit card offences Press, 25 February 1983, Page 4
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