PETROL PROSECUTIONS

Grey River Argus, 11 August 1944, Page 7

PETROL PROSECUTIONS

WANGANUI TRIAL. P.A. WANGANUI, August 9. Adding a rider that: “It be a recommendation that stricter control over deliveries of petrol to resellers should be exercised by the Oil Fuel Controller,” a' jury in the Supreme Court, to-day, found Manswell George Podjurskyl aged thirty-seven years, guilty on two charges of forgery, and on two of making. false statements, with intent to deceive the Oil Fuel Controller, as to quantities of petrol delivered to Podjursky by the Shell Oil Coy, during March and April of this year. The jury found accused not guilty on another charge of forgery, and also acquitted him on a further charge alleging the making of a false statement as to deliveries of petrol. The trial laster more than two days. In all, nineteen charges were preferred against accused, the majority of them relating to breaches of the Oil Fuel Regulations, and separate trials were decided upon. The first trial which related to six charges, was disposed of by the jury, to-day, and the second trial was in progress when the first jury, which took three hours and thirty-five minutes to reach a verdict,' returned. Accused then reversed his plea in respect of five charges, from one of not guilty to guilty. These. alleged that Podjursky, with intent to deceive made false statements to the Oil Fuel Controller, with regard to petrol supplied by him to license holders. The Crown did not offer evidence in respect of these charges.