Treasurer fined

Press, 10 November 1983, Page 4

Treasurer fined

A man, aged 46, described by Judge Fraser as having an “impeccable record” was fined $5OO when he appeared for sentence in the District Court yesterday on five charges of obtaining a pecunicory advantage by using cheques belonging to a social club of which he was the treasurer.

The Judge said there were some unusual features to the case in that although the defendant had transferred substantial sums temporarily to his own bank account, he had repaid them to the social club almost immediately. The defendant, who was granted final suppression of his name, was fined $lOO on each charge. Initially the defendant faced 18 charges of stealing $18,558 from the social club.

After consultation , between counsel (Mr D. I. Jones) and the police prosecutor, 13 charges were withdrawn and the defendant then pleaded guilty to the five charges of obtaining a pecuniary advantage which totalled $5OBl.

The five offences occurred between February 15 and June 13. During this period the defendant had drawn five cheques from the club’s account and paid them into his personal account.

In explanation the defendant told the police he had used the money to pay bills, including a bank overdraft.

Mr Jones said there was no question of his client receiving a pecuniary advantage of $5OBl. What he actually received was $217.

There had been no loss to the social club and the offending was not as serious as it originally seemed, said

Mr Jones. Seeking final suppression of his client’s name, Mr Jbnes said the defendant was a man of talent and ability. He held a crucial job in a Government department, and if his name was published his effectiveness would be undermined.

The defendant’s superiors were anxious to retain his services as the department had nobody 'of his knowledge and experience in Christchurch at present to take his place, said Mr Jones.

The actual amount involved in the offending was small. Total repayment had been made, and the defendant was in a position to pay a fine, he said. . BURGLARY CHARGE

Two men appeared in the dock as a result of the burglary of the Rimu Road premises of Fearons Fish Supply on Tuesday. Mark Raymond Jolly, aged 19, unemployed, who admitted the offence, was convicted by Judge Fraser and remanded to November 25 for a probation report and sentence.

Sergeant G. C. Jones said that a summary was not available but that one could be on the date of sentence. He said he understood that as a result of the burglary, frozen fish valued at $1865 had been taken.

Peter John Regan, aged 21, a fish splitter, who is jointly charged with Jolly, was remanded without plea to November 16.

Both defendants, who were represented by a duty solicitor, Mr E. Bedo, were granted bail of $lOOO. “CERTAIN IRONY”

There was “a certain

irony” to the appearance of a man charged with intentionally damaging windows in a public telephone box on November 4, said Mr Bedo. “The defendant’s father is employed full-time by the Post Office repairing broken windows in telephone boxes,” he said. Andrew James Beedies, aged 21, a gardener, admitted smashing a window in a telephone box in Worcester Street at 10.30 p.m. last Friday. Beedies, said Mr Bedo, was drunk at the time. He was convicted and fined $75 and ordered to pay $2l compensation, DEPOSITIONS Trial by jury was elected by. a man charged with possessing cannabis . plant for sale or supply. • Stephen Martin Russell, aged 23, unemployed, was remanded on bail to December 15 for a taking ofdepositions. He is charged with committing the offence on November. 1. An applicatiori for,interim, suppression of the defendant’s name was refused by the Judge. ' . PASSPORT CHARGE No plea was entered by a man charged that without reasonable excuse, he used a New Zealand passport, issued in the name of some-, one else, for the purposes of travel; Aaron Bernard Francis, aged 23, a process worker, was remanded on bail of $3OOO to November 16. He is charged with committing the alleged offence between November, 1982, and October, this year.