FORGED STAMPS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20296, 4 May 1934, Page 1

FORGED STAMPS.

Three Poles Sentenced to Gaol Terms. DEPORTATION RECOMMENDED. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received May 4, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 3. Najmark was sentenced to four years’ 1 imprisonment and Popielec and Turek to two years’ imprisonment and were recommended for deportation. All persisted in their denial that they knew anything about the forged insurance stamps which were found in their possession. Intercepted on their arrival at London from Holland, three Poles named Turek, Popielec and Najmark were charged at Bow Street on April 12 with being in possession of forged insurance stamps to the value of £44,700. In evidence Turek and Popielec denied that the trunks containing the forgeries were theirs, but the key to open them was found in the lining of Turek’s hat. The stamps were found beneath a cleverly concealed bottom tray. Accused were committed for trial. An earlier cable said:—Scotland Yard has run to earth an international gang of- criminals who for a year have been forging bonds which have been sold in London. The forgeries include British and United States Government securities and British insurance stamps valued at £40,000. Estimates of the amount of the frauds vary from £250,000 to £1,000,000. After suspicions had been aroused, a London detective flew to Warsaw and persuaded the Polish police to raid premises, where a parcel of forged securities was seized and further ramifications of the scheme were disclosed. So far eighteen arrests have been made, three in London.