Man defrauded banks of $67,000

Press, 7 August 1985, Page 4

Man defrauded banks of $67,000

A total of $78,700 was fraudulently obtained from two banks by several offenders last year using methods which, at the request of the police, were suppressed by Judge Bisphan in the District Court yesterday. Hamish Keith McDougall, aged 30, admitted 37 charges of fraudulently using documents (cheques), and one. charge of false pretence, to obtain a total of $67,100. McDougall (Mr S. C. Barker) was convicted and jailed for two years for what was described as sustained offending involving a substantial sum of money. A high degree of criminality was involved, coupled with a very sophisticated method, said the Judge. There was “absolutely no hope” of the $41,600 compensation sought being made.

McDougall, through his present offending and a recent “substantial” social welfare fraud, for which he is at present serving nine months jail, had “waged financial war against society,” said the Judge. The two years imposed yesterday were to be cumulative on the nine-month sentence. No order was made for compensation.

Mr Barker said his client’s involvement was through another person or persons. It could also be said that the offending was perpetrated through the negligence of the Post Office.

Sergeant W. P. Creasey

said the police were informed of the $78,700 fraud in June last year. Cheques to a value of $67,100 were written by the defendant and $45,100 was withdrawn in cash and bank cheques. McDougall, when interviewed, denied any involvement and told the police he had nothing to say about the offences. Compensation of $45,100 was sought on behalf of the Post Office and the Trustee Savings Bank. Sergeant Creasey said the Post Office had instituted new rules to prevent any recurrence of similar offending. CULTIVATION OFFENCE A total of 153 cannabis plants found growing in a specially equipped concealed room at an Avonhead address led to the conviction of a man on charges of cultivating cannabis and possessing the drug for supply. Louis James Comber, a beneficiary, who admitted the offences, was granted bail “reluctantly” and remanded to August 20 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant Creasey said the concealed room had been specially constructed and fitted out with lighting equipment and an irrigation system estimated to have cost $4OOO. The total amount of cannabis seized by detectives at the house weighed four pounds which when processed would be worth $6OOO, said Sergeant Creasey. Comber admitted he smoked the drug but claimed he did not supply it. As for the large number of plants he told the police he

“cycled” his cultivation to ensure his supply did not run out. Sergeant Creasey said the defendant lived alone at the address and cared for a child, aged 4Vz. HEROIN CHARGES A man and a woman charged with conspiring to supply heroin were remanded in custody to next week. The pair were arrested as part of a New Zealand-wide drug swoop by the police and Customs Department officials. Mark Alistair Beri, aged 26, unemployed (Mr P. H. B. Hall), was’ remanded to August 13 on a charge of conspiring with Wayne David Beri, and others, to supply heroin. The police say the offending occurred at Auckland and elsewhere in New Zealand between May 20 and August 4. Mareeka Faye Barry, aged 27, a solo mother (Mr D. C. Fitzgibbon), was charged that between the same dates at Christchurch she conspired with Melvin William Alexander Wilkins to supply heroin. She was remanded to August 12. $7500 BAIL

Bail was set at $2500 with two sureties of $2500 for a man charged with possessing cannabis leaf for sale or supply, and possessing cannabis seeds. Kenneth Wayne Martin, aged 29, unemployed, who did not plead, was remanded to August 13. He was ordered to report daily to the police. Bail was opposed by Sergeant Creasey who said further and major charges were pending. The police say the alleged

offences occurred on July 5. PERIODIC DETENTION A man convicted of being in possession of ,250 g of cannabis preparation was sentenced to periodic detention for two months. Robert Alexander Lawrie, aged 24, unemployed, admitted the offence. Sergeant Creasey said the cannabis preparation, wrapped in tinfoil, was found when the police executed a search warrant at the defendant’s address on Monday night. PERIODIC DETENTION Periodic detention for five months was imposed on Bernice Anne Hodges, aged 19, unemployed, earlier convicted on 29 fraud offences by which she obtained goods and services valued at $2341. Compensation of this amount, in view of the defendant’s financial state, was out of the question, said the Judge. Hodges (Mr A. M. Mclntosh) had opened a bank account in her own name with a deposit of $lOO and no others. She issued cheques and exhausted the funds in her account. She then reported to the bank that the book had been stolen. After being given a replacement book she began issuing worthless cheques again. Property obtained included meals, accommodation, clothing, and jewellery. The offending occurred in May. Mr Mclntosh said that as his client opened the account in her own name it was inevitable that she would be found out. PERIODIC DETENTION Sentencing Whiu Arthur Carroll, aged 32, a labourer, to periodic detention for eight months for his part in the burglary of a Colombo Street clothing firm in July, the Judge told him he was “very close to going to prison.” Carroll (Mr M. G. Lee) had admitted burgling the premises of Martin Donnithorne, Ltd, with two cooffenders. He also admitted and was convicted on 15 charges of fraud involving the use of bank withdrawal slips to obtain $2370. On being told that Carroll had the prospect of taking up a job, the Judge ordered that he pay compensation in full at the rate of $3O a week. In the burglary the proprietor suffered a broken arm, head injuries, cuts and bruises, dimmed vision, and was in hospital for 10 days after being attacked while investigating a burglar alarm. The Judge accepted counsel’s submission that his client had not attacked Mr Donnithorne and that no charge accusing him of the offence had been laid. No gain was made by Carroll who just “tagged along” with two other persons, said Mr Lee.