RECORD DRINK SELLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20131, 17 December 1928, Page 8

RECORD DRINK SELLING.

AN ARAB IN FIJI. FINE OF ONE HUNDRED POUNDS. [from our own - correspondent*] SUVA, Dec. S. Charlie Ahmed, an Arab, who appeared in the Suva Police Court on a charge of having sold liquor to natives, is alleged to have sold more spirits in the last 12 months than any of the hotels in the town. He was fined £IOO some time ago on a similar charge. On this occasion he pleaded guilty, and asked, through his counsel, Mr. R. Cromptpn. K.C., that he be only fined, and not sent to gaol. He said he would undertake to take out a prohibition order aganst himself which would ensure that he was not supplied with liquor. Inspector Lucchinelli, who prosecuted, stated that from May 1 to November 20. accused had purchased 720 bottles o* liquor from A. M. Brodziak's, of which 630 were of whisky, and 90 of rum ana bra,ndy. He had bought the whisky at an average price of 10s a bottle and sola it for 13s 6d. When his premises were raided only seven bottles were found. On the morning on which the inlo ™j ation leading to the charge was secar Inspector Lucchinelli spent f^ I ',. . . crouched under the roof of an Indian on a narrow rafter with the roof r f :« three feet above him. He was succeiss in catching the accused in the act delivering the liquor. Ahmed was fined £IOO.