Convictions quashed

Press, 24 April 1984, Page 21

Convictions quashed

PA Auckland The Court of Appeal has quashed 11 fraud-related convictions entered against George Papaconstantinou, of Auckland, in 1982. Mr Papaconstantinou, a company director, of Rothesay Bay, was found guilty in the District Court at Auckland in April, 1982, on 11 charges. He had pleaded not guilty to one charge of breaching the exchange control regulations, eight of using a document with intent to defraud, and two of false pretences. The first charge related to failure to return unused foreign travellers’ cheques which the police found in his

possession while executing a search warrant in July, 1981. In its judgment the Court of Appeal found that there was no regulation which directly required the return of overseas funds on the terms described in the formal charge. The Court, comprising Mr Justice Woodhouse, Mr Justice Cooke, and Mr Justice Hardie Boys, said that a Reserve Bank declaration on the return of unused foreign funds did not affect the appellant, as he had not left New Zealand after buying the travellers’ cheques. The cheques, totalling SUS96O and £625, wp/jp seized with $25,000 in Netf Zealand currency.