GOLD EXPORTED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21253, 5 August 1932, Page 14

GOLD EXPORTED

QUANTITY OF SOVEREIGNS CHARGE AGAINST A BUYER MONEY SEIZED IN SYDNEY V An unusual charge, that of exporting coined gold, 207 sovereigns and 219 halfsovereigns, without the consent in writing of the Minister of Finance, was brought against George Washington, aged 36, gold buyer, in the Polico Court yesterday, before Mr W. R. McKean, S.M. The charge resulted from the seizure of bioken jewellery valued at £650 and 350 sovereigns by customs officials in Sydney last week Counsel said tho charge would be admitted. 110 submitted, however, that the case was not one in which accused could be ordered to forfeit the gold. The money had been seized by the police in Sydney, and an interim injunction had been granted by the New South Wales Supremo Court, restraining the Commissioner of Polico irom exporting the gold to New Zealand while its ownership was being determined by the Supreme Court. There was no suggestion of dishonesty in the method by which accused had obtained the gold, counsel added. He had bought it in his business as a gold buyer. Detective-Sergeant Kelly said the case was one in which tho Crown Prosecutor would have to appear, and he was not avaiiablo at present. Accused was remanded for a week, bail being allowed in his own recognisance of £SO.