Credit-card charges

Press, 15 February 1989, Page 15

Credit-card charges

While working as a mail sorter at the Christchurch postal centre in Hereford Street, Steven Neil Binnie was alleged to have intercepted 36 credit cards sent through the post to various bank clients, and to have been involved with two other men in using these on 37 occasions to obtain money. Binnie, aged 23, faced a preliminary hearing in the District Court yesterday on 73 charges relating to the credit cards. These were 36 charges of theft of various credit cards while employed by New Zealand Post, and 37 charges of using the cards ■ fraudulently to obtain cash advances from various bank branches. These related to the I period from May 3 to • September 23 last year. The hearing, before Dr

J. F. Mann and Mrs 0. M.

7 Franks, was adjourned to - a date to be set, for ' completion. « Mr D. J. Taffs appears ■ for Binnie.

Sergeant B. M. Roswell said the police alleged that Binnie removed the cards while sorting mail. He subsequently arranged for two other men to take the stolen cards to various banks to obtain cash advances.

Binnie was alleged to have shared in the money they got. The police contended he was a party to the fraudulent use of the credit cards on 37 occasions.

Douglas Grant, aged 26, gave evidence of having been convicted, and sentenced to periodic detention last month after pleading guilty to 37 charges involving the use of five cards. He was ordered to make restitution of $7500.

He said he had worked with Binnie as a postal assistant He later went to Australia, returning in April last year.

About two months after his return he became in-

volved in the use of credit cards, by “agreement” with Binnie.

The agreement was that Binnie would obtain the cards and the witness would “work” them and they would share equally the money obtained.

Binnie told him he intercepted the cards in the mail.

The cards Binnie gave Mr Grant were then used by him to obtain cash advances from banks.

The money was shared equally between them.

He said he was convicted of offences involving his obtaining $15,000 from the use of the cards.

He was ordered to pay restitution of $7500. The money he obtained was divided equally with Binnie.

Cross-examined, the witness said he spent most of his share of the money on drugs. He agreed he still had a drug problem, and that affected his ability “a little” to recall matters.