Remand in fraud case

Press, 26 July 1989, Page 22

Remand in fraud case

A man charged with a GST fraud involving $126,000 has been remanded to August 1. Bail was not opposed for Dirk Hans Van Der Laan, aged 27, a beneficiary, who appeared before Judge Hay in the District Court yesterday. No pleas were entered to the eight charges which allegedly involved the defendant defrauding the Inland Revenue Department over GST rebates. It is alleged that the offending took place at Gisborne and Christchurch between May, 1987, and May, 1988. A duty solicitor, Mr Wolfgang Rosenberg, in applying for legal aid, which was granted, told the Judge that the defendant was a bankrupt. LIQUOR BREACHES The Musicians Club, Christchurch Incorporated, was fined $l2OO, and an order was made for the forfeiture of $1033 of liquor seized at the clubrooms by the police. The club, incorporated in 1968, was convicted on three breaches of the Sale of Liquor Act — selling

liquor when not licensed to do so, exposing liquor for sale, and allowing its Hazeldean Road premises to be used for the sale of ' liquor. Sergeant Max South said two plain clothes police officers gained admittance to the club after paying a $5 entry fee and purchasing a $7 drink jicket each. Seventy people were present at the time. On May 6 a search warrant was executed. The bar was open and police seized liquor to the value of $1033. In the past year, said Sergeant South, the club purchased liquor, valued at $27,000, and made a profit on sales of $6500. Counsel, Mr Richard Peters, said since its incorporation in 1968 the club, it appeared, had been under the misapprehension that it was acting within the law. It was a voluntary organisation run for the benefit of its members. The club had no previous convictions and since the visit by the police the 4jub had stopped the con-

sumption of alcohol on the premises, said Mr Peters. The club was now seeking a licence and this would not be opposed by the police he said. Entry to the club was restricted and the two officers had gained entry by claiming they were overseas musicians, he said. PERIODIC DETENTION Two persons who visited a Perth Street address to buy drugs were each sentenced to periodic detention for two months. Michael Joseph Reid, aged 32, unemployed, had admitted visiting the address to purchase morphine. Paul Thomas William Hanson, aged 26, unemployed, had attempted to buy two temgesics tablets at the address. Both offences took place on July 13. Observations of the address by drug squad officers showed that between 50 and 100 persons called there daily to buy drugs, said Sergeant Pat CrQasey. *