FORGED IMPORT ENTRIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19969, 10 December 1926, Page 12

FORGED IMPORT ENTRIES

AGENT PLEADS GUILTY. SHORT PAYMENTS MADE (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, December 8. A Customs agent named Clifton Webb Verran, aged 28 years, appeared before Messrs Donaldson and R* I* Michaels, justices of the peace at the Police Court this morning on a number ot charges. Chief Detective Cummings prosecuted, while accused was represented bv Mr A. it. Johnstone. , , .. ■ ~ Verran was charged on two informations with forging import entries b- falsely signing what purported to be the signatures of the Collector of Customs and applying a rubber stamp impression with intent that it should be acted upon a: genuine, foiginer the name of J. J- V\ooler to import entries (four charges), and 12 charges of fraudulently omitting to account to the Customs Department at Auckland for a total of £230, thereby committing theft. John Joseph Wooler. importer of fancy goods, Auckland, said he knew accused, whom he engaged two years ago to attend to the passing of witness s goods through the Customs Department. lie dealt with all overseas goods. About September 29, 1925, witness' received, ex the Tamm, six cases of fancy goods. He handed the invoices to accused to compile, import entry, and clear the goods. On September 29 accused notified witness that the Customs duty on goods was £l2O 0s lOd. Verran was given a cheque for this amount. Witness examined the bill- sight, wherein it was stated that the goods were valued at £45, and that the invoices wore not to •hand. This was a false document as accused received invoices. About October 29 1925 witness received a further importation of goods by the Connthic. He handed accused the invoices. Verran notifying him that the duty was £34 15? 7d. A cheque was given to Verran, but the import entry showed that only £lB as was paid. Accused had no authority to retain the balance. The signature J. J Wooler’* was not witness s signature. On November 30 1925, another shipment was received. Witness then gave other details of importations and of amounts handed to accused and of those paid by him to the Customs. The Assistant Sub-collector of Customs '(George Henry Comes) gave lengthy evidence on many transactions. Ihe initials and rubber stamps on several documents were examined by witness, who described them as forgeries. The total amount which accused had failed to pay to the Chstoms Department was £230 0s ItW. Since accused’s arre-*- the whole of this money had been repaid to the department bv Verran. , , ~ ~ In answer to Mr Johnstone, witness said that the assistance 'given by accused saved the prosecution calling a number of witDetective Sergeant O’Brien stated that on his arrest accused said he was anxious to clear the whole matter up. He said that there was no one else mixed up in this matter, and that he had “done it all himself.” Owing to the accused giving the police every assistance considerable time and expense was saved in making the investigations. . „ , Verran pleaded guilty to all the charges and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, hail being allowed.