Accountant jailed for six months

Press, 29 August 1984, Page 4

Accountant jailed for six months

A self-employed chartered accountant was sent to prison for six months by Judge Fraser when he appeared for sentence in the District Court yesterday for stealing $24,400 from clients’ funds. Peter Reginald Allan, aged 41, (Mr S. C. Barker), had admitted the offence which took place between December 3, 1982, and March 15, this year. The Judge said he was unable to accept the recommendations of the probation officer and counsel that Allan should be dealt with by a community-based sentence.

A term of imprisonment was required although matters advanced on the defendant’s behalf were taken into account in determining the length of the prison sentence, said the Judge.

Although the defendant had already paid $4400 by way of part compensation and counsel had indicated that Allan was entitled to a further $3300 in fees, this still left a considerable balance outstanding, said the Judge. Mr Barker had submitted that his client had, of his own volition, gone to the New Zealand Society of Accountants which had led to the charge being laid. The defendant’s clients, from whom he took the money, had not complained or pressed charges. Mr Barker said the prosecution arose when the defendant, realising his position took advice on the matter and then made disclosures to the accountants’ society. The society itself took disciplinary action and made a complaint to the police. At the earlier hearing Sergeant W. J. McCormick said the society claimed Allan had misappropriated funds from client’s accounts over which he had signing rights. DEPOSITIONS

William James Willis, aged 31, unemployed, was remanded to October 10 for the taking of depositions on 11 charges which involve property to a total value of almost $30,000. Willis, (Mrs D. M. Orchard), who is charged with committing the offences during the last two months, was remanded in custody. He faces five charges of receiving property valued at $17,715, two charges of stealing property, valued at $11,356, and four charges of burglary.

Property involved included jewellery, furniture,

video recorders, a video camera, crystal, china, silverware, crockery, tools, and kitchenware.

Bail was “strongly” opposed by Sergeant Dwyer because of the seriousness of the offending and the number of the alleged offences. INDECENCY CHARGES

A man facing four charges of indecency relating to his stepchildren was remanded without plea to September 4. He was granted interim suppression of his name.

The alleged offences relate to two boys, aged 11, and a girl, aged nine, between January 1982, and this month.

In seeking suppression, heard in chambers a duty solicitor (Mrs P. D. Gibson), said the defendant had a psychiatric problem and that a report was to be obtained. BURGLARY OFFENCES

An unemployed man who committed three burglaries from which property to the value of $13,810 was taken, was convicted and remanded in custody to September 4 for a probation report and sentence. The offences, committed this month, were admitted by Tamati William Gray, •aged 19 (Mr K. J. Grave). Sergeant J. E. Dwyer said that of the amount stolen, property worth $9533 was recovered through the work of an undercover policeman who worked in Christchurch during the last 15 months. The undercover policeman paid a total of $l2OO to the defendant, and his associate, and $6OO compensation was sought from Gray, said Sergeant Dwyer. The burglaries, were of a Cashel Street flat, a motel, and a video centre.

Property stolen was mainly video units, cassette tapes, video recorders, and records valued at $2400. EXPLOSIVES

There was no suggestion that his client was involved in the robbery of a Ferry Road dairy on August 8, said counsel (Mr M. J. Glue). John Francis Ayers, aged 30, unemployed, was convicted on a charge of unlawfully possessing eight sticks of gelignite and 11 detonators.

Sergeant Dwyer said that on August 8 a Ferry Road dairy was robbed by a man brandishing three sticks of gelignite. As a result of police inquiries Ayers was spoken to and eight sticks of gelignite and ijtll detonators were found-at his address. Ayers told the police he

paid $lO for the explosives which he bought from a man in a hotel car-park two months earlier. Sergeant Dwyer said the defendant said he had not known what he had intended to do with the property. Ayers was remanded in custody to September 4 for a probation report and sentence.

Ayers also admitted, and was convicted, on charges of driving with an excess blood-alcohol level, driving at an excessive speed, and driving while disqualified on September 15 last week. WELFARE FRAUD Interim suppression of name was refused for a woman convicted of being overpaid 54842 by the Social Welfare Department. Maria Paranesi Peseta, aged 28, a car assembler, admitted giving false particulars to an officer of the department on two occasions in order to obtain a domestic purposes benefit. She was convicted and remanded on bail of $750 to September 11 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant Dwyer said Peseta had applied for the benefit in February, 1981, saying she was separated from her husband who had returned to Samoa. Later it was found the woman was not separated. Peseta said she used the money to pay outstanding bills, and for household expenses, and some money was sent to her mother in Auckland who was not eligible for a benefit. Compensation of $4842, was sought from the defendant, said Sergeant Dwyer. PROBATION A woman earlier convicted on 15 charges of fraud, and one of theft was placed on probation for 18 months when she appeared for sentence. In addition Marlene Michelle Ahumai Smith was ordered to pay compensation of $l7OO — the value of the property fraudulently obtained. Smith, aged 21, a musician (Miss J. N. Drake) committed the offences between April and June. Miss Drake said her client, a first offender, had been under the influence of others more experienced in criminal matters. CHARGE DENIED Eric Milton Whitworth, aged 44, a serviceman, was remanded to October 15 for a defended hearing on two charges of carrying on the business of a security guard when not licensed to do so. say the took place on February 6and 19.