Insurance broker bailed on fraud and forgery counts

Press, 19 June 1986, Page 6

Insurance broker bailed on fraud and forgery counts

Ball of $6OOO was allowed a self-employed insurance broker now facing charges of fraud and forgery, involving $146,000, when he appeared before Judge Fraser in the District Court yesterday. Henk Josephus Arnoldus Hofmans, aged 50 (Mr J. S. Fairclough), was remanded to July 2 without plea. The Judge said bail consisted of $2OOO self, and two sureties of the same amount. Hofmans was also ordered to surrender his passport to the police pending the outcome of the case. The application for bail was heard in Chambers at the end of the day after Mr Fairclough said he wished to challenge police opposition to bail. Opposition to bail remained, said Detective Sergeant N. Scott. On his first court appearance last week, when Hofmans faced only one charge of forging a membership application in a personal superannuation fund, on April 22, Judge Sheehan refused bail.

The bail application on that occasion was also heard in Chambers. Yesterday Hofmans faced new charges including 20 of forgery and 12 of fraudulently obtaining insurance commission payments. The alleged offences are said by police to have taken place between September, last year, and last month. BURGLARY CHARGE Jeremy Mattave Livisone, who faces charges of burglary, and helping an escaped prisoner to avoid arrest, was remanded to June 25. Livisone, aged 31, unemployed, is charged with breaking and entering the Colombo Street premises of Mahar and O’Keefe Menswear, Ltd, and with assisting Paparua Prison escaper, Ashley Noel Fulton, to avoid arrest. Police say both offences took place on June 4. Livisone was allowed bail of $2OOO. SIX MONTHS JAIL A man who obtained almost $ll,OOO after committing 29 offences of false pretence, was sent to

prison for six months. “This was a blatant and deliberate course of conduct committed over several weeks and involving a substantial sum of money,” the Judge told. Stephen James Barwell. Barwell, aged 23 (Mr J. S. Halls), who had earlier been convicted of the offences, had no real explanationto offer other

than that he needed money to get his car repaired. Mr Halls said there was no realistic prospect of reparation being made. Although Barweirs previous offending had only been spasmodic he had, for some unknown reason, allowed himself “a massive indulgence” this time.