Bogus money deals alleged

Press, 7 December 1985, Page 2

Bogus money deals alleged

PA Wellington Alleged bogus foreign exchange deals totalling more than $lOO million led to a former employee of a leading finance house being charged yesterday in the District Court at Wellington.

The man, described as unemployed, faced six charges of false accounting last June and July.

He was granted interim suppression of name yesterday by Judge Beatson and remanded without plea to appear again in court on December 13.

The six charges relate to alleged bogus deals in respect of SNZ4I million and sAust64 million.

He was charged that being a servant of the finance house with intent to defraud made false entries in foreign exchange deal slips by recording that ?Austl4 million had been sold on June 10 when in fact s the deal did not occur. ’ The other charges related to July 9 (SNZ4I million), July 8 (sAustB million), July 8 (sAust24 million), June 28 (sAustB million) and June 12 (sAustl4 million).

When the name of the accused was called in court the accused did not appear in the dock.

His counsel, Mr lan Gordon, said that the police had excused his client’s appearance.

“It is not the police who excuse appearance (of an accused), it is the courts,” said the Judge. Further, Mr Gordon said the police would support an application for suppression of his client’s name.

The Judge granted interim suppression and remanded the accused at large — meaning he would not have to sign a bail bond.

Mel Smith (above), part of the British comedy duo, Smith and Jones, does not see himself as a hero. The duo have been featured in advertisements and commercials promoting a brand of New Zealand beer. There are strict guidelines on using identifiable heroes of the young (usually sports people) to promote alcohol. Smith said he did not see himself, or Griff Rhys Jones, as heroes, just comedians.

For Smith and Jones, who were part of the zany British comedy television programme, “Not the Nine O’clock News,” and later a more sedate, “Alas Smith and Jones,” it is the first time that they have done a full-length stage show. The duo had done a lot of short stage acts, such as special promotions, for IBM salesmen, for example, and skits for charity shows, but these had not been longer than 10 minutes. The two-hour live show

was not a “heavy” satirical one, rather there was more emphasis on the stage and comic routines.

“We don’t do many sketches. Rather than do the favourite sketches shown on the telly, we are trying to do something on the stage. “We are trying as hard as we can to make it a stage show,” he said.

Smith described the show as shocking and rude. New Zealand can look forward to a second television series of “Alas Smith and Jones” — provided Television New Zealand buys it — which will feature tighter skits than the first series, but retaining the successful sketches, such as the “head-to-head” routine. Smith and Jones will start their “Alas! The World” tour of New Zealand at the Christchurch Town Hall tomorrow.