EMPLOYMENT FUND FRAUD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 26 November 1938, Page 9

EMPLOYMENT FUND FRAUD

£3OO COMPENSATION SPENT IN FOUR MONTHS PRISON SENTENCE IMPOSED lU»»iib<l Press Association} DUNEDIN, 25th November. After admitting that in four months he had spent more than £3OO awarded as compenlation for spinal injuries received in a railway accident, John Alexander William Forrester, aged 23 years, was sentenced to a month's imprisonment by Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court this morning for obtaining from the employment promotion branch sums of money amounting to £4 by falsely representing that he was unemployed and that his income was nil. Chief-Detective Holmes said that between 2nd February and 28th August accused was on relief, which necessitated his signing weekly returns stating that he was receiving no income. Between 15th July and 28th August accused was In employment and received £2 a week for driving a milkeart. During that period he filled in forms showing his income to be nil. The result was that he received £4 more than if he had filled in the forms correctly. Accused, the chief-detective said, was a single man with no dependants. His excuse was that he considered that if he declared he was in work and then lost his employment it would be some time before he could get back on relief. Accused, who pleaded guilty, said that he had nothing to sSy. Chief-Detective Holrties Said that accused had received more lhah £3OO for compensation afid had been refused sustenance because he would not explain what he had done with the money. In response to an Inquiry by the magistrate accused stated that he had spent all the money. He was hurt in a railway smash two years ago and received spinal injuries. He had received the money in September, 193?, and had beeh oh sustenance since February 1938. “That means you spent over £JOO in four months.” raid the magistrate. "What did yOu spend it on?” “Oh, I bought clothes, a car, and so forth," replied accused. You will be sentenced to one month’s irr prisonmerit,” said the magistrate,