Tax clerk fined, blackmail claim’

Press, 14 April 1984, Page 4

Tax clerk fined, blackmail claim’

Threatened repossession of his car by a debt collector because he was behind with his hire-purchase payments led a former Inland Revenue Department clerk to supply the collector with the addresses of 15 persons he was seeking, said Sergeant M. J. South in the District Court yesterday. Larry Clifford Gillard, aged 37, unemployed (Mr M. J. Glue) admitted that in November, last year, while employed by the Inland Revenue Department he gave information relating to acts administered .by the department to Leslie Neil Duncan, a person not lawfully entitled to have such information. He was convicted and fined $3OO by Judge Bisphan who refused an application by Mr Glue seeking suppression of his client’s name.

Sergeant South said that Gillard was approached by Duncan over a late payment

of $241. Gillard offered him a postdated cheque for the amount which was dishonoured, after Duncan presented it immediately. Duncan then threatened to repossess the defendant’s car but said that he (Duncan) was prepared to pay the $241 himself if Gillard would supply the addresses of a number of persons he was trying to locate. Subsequently in a hotel, and at Duncan’s office, Gillard gave him the addresses he sought. Further attempts by Duncan to obtain similar information was refused by the defendant, said Sergeant South. The release of this information eventually came to the attention of the department which referred the matter to the police. Gillard, a first offender, told police he was under considerable financial pressure at the time of the offence and also feared the repossession of his car. Sergeant South said that the Inland Revenue Department viewed seriously such breaches of confidential information. Gillard, he said, left his employment with the defendant late last month. The offence was of an unusual type and “bore all the ingredients of blackmail,” said Mr Glue. His client had been coerced by Duncan who had extorted the information from him. Following the characteristic behaviour of the blackmailer, Duncan went back for more, said Mr Glue. Gillard, he said, had been extremely foolish. He described the debt collector who, to his knowledge, had not been charged in relation to the matter, as having behaved in “a most unscrupulous and underhand manner.” Mr Glue sought a discharge without conviction because of the effects a conviction could have in his client’s future. DEPOSITIONS Trial by jury was elected by a man facing charges of unlawfully possessing a knife in the Bush Inn car park, assaulting Kevin James Robert Taylor, and unlawfully taking Mr Taylor’s $l5OO station waggon. David William John Rich-

ardson, aged 21, unemployed was remanded on bail of $3OOO to April 26 for the taking of depositions. Richardson sought bail which was opposed by the police. Sergeant South said the defendant had failed to appear for sentence at Timaru on charges of threatening to kill and causing grievous bodily harm. ALARM CHARGE A sickness beneficiary charged with knowingly giving a false fire alarm was remanded to Sunnyside Hospital for a psychiatric report. Elizabeth Scarlett Smithers Healey, aged 26, is charged with committing the alleged offence yesterday. No plea was entered and the defendant is due to appear in court again on April 27. A duty solicitor, Mr K. J. Grave, said he had been unable to take instructions. The defendant struggled with several members of the police escort as she was leaving the dock. PERIODIC DETENTION Three months periodic detention was given to a man who was appearing for sentence on a charge of carrying on the business of a bookmaker. Graham Edward Steele aged 40, had admitted the offence. When police visited his address they found, from records seized, he had received bets, totalling $1432 from 16 punters on various meetings being held throughout New Zealand. Steele, who was not legally represented, said his only income was the dole. With the sort of fine he had intended to impose for this offence, the defendant’s second bookmaking conviction, the Judge said he did not think Steele would have any prospect of paying it.