Insurance broker jailed for fraud

Press, 17 July 1986, Page 4

Insurance broker jailed for fraud

A self-employed insurance broker who fraudulently obtained $129,059 in commissions on fictitious proposals, was sent to prison for two years when he appeared for sentence before Judge Kerr in the District Court yesterday. Henk Josephus Arnoldus Hofmans, aged 50 (Mr J. S. Fairclough) was appearing for sentence on 12 offences of fraudulently obtaining insurance commission payments, and 19 charges of forgery, committed between September, last year, and May, this year. Because it appeared that Hofmans • would not be in a position to pay reparation of $80,949, the Judge ordered that $ll,OOO worth of travellers’ cheques belonging to the defendant, and now held by the police, be paid immediately to the insurance firms concerned.

These three firms could, no doubt, take civil remedies to obtain the balance, said the Judge.

The offending, and the large amount of money

involved, called for a custodial sentence, the term of which, must be sufficient to deter others who breached trust on such a scale.

Mr Fairclough said until the offending began, because of his client’s financial difficulties, Hofmans was held in the highest regard by his friends and colleagues; while his honesty and integrity were beyond question.

By his co-operation, Hofmans had saved the police from what could have been a lengthy and involved investigation, he said.

On the question of reparation, Mr Fairciough said the police held $ll,OOO worth of his client’s travellers cheques, and there was some jewellery which might realise a further $16,000. The police, he added, were satisfied that Hofmans had no “slush” fund “stashed” away. ' Although the defendant obtained $129,059 in commissions, the Judge, when considering the matter of reparation, said $48,100 could be deducted by way of premium payments already made to the insurance companies by the fictitious policy holders. ARSON OFFENCE

Fires lit in bedrooms at a Shortland Street flat last

December in which an elderly couple were sleeping. caused $2500 worth of damage, said Sergeant W. P. Creasey. Colin Barry Dennis Nolan, aged 38, a plasterer (Miss J. L. Pengelly) was convicted on a charge of arson, and with breaking into the flat He was committed to the High Court for sentence on July 30. His bail was renewed.

Sergeant Creasey said about 2.30 a.m. on December 24, the elderly occupants of the flat awoke to find their bedclothes on fire.

The woman suffered slight bums to her hands in her attempts to extinguish the fire, which also scorched walls and ceiling.

The Fire Brigade, which was soon on the scene, discovered that the fire, and two other fires in other rooms, had been deliberately lit. Nolan, who was at the flat when the brigade arrived, claimed he came across the fire when on his way home, and had gone to help, said Sergeant Creasey. The two occupants, who were not known to Nolan, denied this and said he was of no assistance to them.

Three times, when questioned by Criminal Investigation Bureau de-

tectlves, Nolan had denied being involved in lighting tne nres.

Compensation of $2500 was sought ffom the defendant, who is a first offender.

Nolan had been set down for a depositions hearing on the charges, but Miss Pengeily said her client wished to change his pleas. ASSAULT OFFENCE A man, aged 53, suffered fractures to his ribs, a black eye, a cut mouth, and was off work for two weeks, after being hit by a softball bat wielded by Michael James Wilson, said Sergeant Creasey. Wilson, aged 18 (Mr W. Rosenberg), admitted assaulting Robert Joseph Steinberg on April 11.

He was convicted and remanded on renewed bail to July 25 for. a probation report and sentence.

Sergeant Creasey said that about 3 p.m. on April 11 the defendant was at an address at which he was boarding.

Because of a scuffle between Mr Steinberg, who was visiting the address, and the defendant’s brother, Wilson went to his room, got a softball bat with which he then struck the complainant. He told the police the complainant came at him with his shoe raised intending to hit him.