Sauna patron admits intent to defraud

Press, 31 October 1984, Page 6

Sauna patron admits intent to defraud

PA Wellington A man who made an early-morning bid to pay for a sauna with forged banknotes has been sentenced by Judge Hobbs in the District Court at Wellington to 80 hours community service. Sileulumoega Faamasino, aged 35, earlier had admitted that with intent to defraud he made a $2O note that was a reproduction of a banknote. He also admitted using the document. Counsel, in a plea in mitigation, said that Faamasino had gone into a sauna and attempted to pay with Korean currency but the manageress would not ac-

cept it. He had then returned to his car, fished round in his pockets, and discovered the banknotes which were the subject of the charge. The notes were immediately recognisable for what they were, and Faamasino was not able to obtain service. He left the sauna and soon afterwards was arrested by the police. The Judge said that it was a naive type of offence but he was a little concerned. “It was the defendant who manufactured the notes,” he said. “One wonders why he did that unless it.was to use them for some purpose such as this.”