FRAUD CHARGE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20256, 16 March 1934, Page 7

FRAUD CHARGE.

Sequel to Relief Fund Payments. CASE AT TAUPO. Per Press Association. ROTORUA, March 16. In the Magistrate’s Court at Taupo yesterday'-, before Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., John Atirau Asher, licensee of the Tokaanu Hotel and chairman of the Tokaanu Native School Committee, was charged with obtaining £65 19s 9d from Tiweka Paru, registrar of the Waiariki Native Land Board, Rotorua, by means of false pretences. Accused also faced three further charges of causing Tiweka Paru to .act upon false time sheets. Evidence was brought by the police to show that Asher, as chairman of the School Committee, had allegedly falsified time sheets in connection with work done in improving the school grounds, and for which a grant of £BO was obtained from the Native Unemployment Funds. Asher pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court at Hamilton for trial. Three Men Implicated. In connection with the same work at Tokaanu, charges of signing false time sheets were brought against three men: Eric Hutton, carrier, of Tokaanu; Walter Rae Shannon, a labourer, of Tokaanu; and Arthur Victor Herbert, labourer, of Reporoa. All three admitted that they had signed time sheets showing various amounts due to them for work on the school grounds, although they had not at any time worked on the grounds and were not eligible for relief work. They contended that they had signed the sheets at Asher’s request, not realising at the time what they were signing. The Magistrate said he could not believe this assertion and imposed convictions on all three. Hutton was fined £5 and ordered to pay £2 toward the cost of the prosecution. Shannon was fined £2 and ordered to pay 10s costs, and Herbert was ordered to come up for sentence at any time within twelve months and ordered to pay 10s costs. Clerk Stole £336. TAURANGA, March 16. In the Police Court yesterday afternoon, Alexander Robert Munro, clerk of the Tauranga Electric Power Board, was charged with the theft of money, totalling £336, the property of the board, over a period from April, 1932, to January last. Accused pleaded guilty to all charges and was committed to the Supreme Court at Auckland for sentence. Bail was not asked for.