Bribes Accepted by Soldier Become Crown Property

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26770, 13 May 1948, Page 7

Bribes Accepted by Soldier Become Crown Property

N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec. 9.45 p.m. LONDON. May 12. When a claim by Charles Henry Reading, a former sergeant in the Royal Army Medical Corps, for the return of £13,000 allegedly wrongly seized by the Crown came before the King’s Bench Division, Sir Hartley Shawcross, the Attorney-general, claimed that the sum was part of £20,000 allegedly received by Reading as bribes during his war service in Egypt. Sir Hartley said that, although Reading's pay was only £5 10s a week, he lived in an expensive flat and kept a motor car worth £ISOO. When Reading’s flat in Cairo - was searched by

the military police £7OOO. mostly in £IOO Egyptian notes, was found. Reading subsequently admitted that he had been receiving very large sums for riding on certain lorries which he believed to be carrying whisky. On these occasions Reading wore his army uniform, and. as a result, the lorries were allowed to pass without being searched. Reading was charged with nine offences under the Army Act and convicted on each one by army court martial. Reading, who brought his claim under the Petition of Right, established in 1628, argued that the Crown was not entitled to retain money seized from him during his army service. Mr Justice Denning said that when he obtained this money Reading was a servant of the Crown, and was, therefore, accountable to the Crown for it. The petition was dismissed.