DETAINEE SENTENCED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 49, 19 February 1943, Page 5

DETAINEE SENTENCED

ESCAPE FROM STRATHMORE

EX-WHAKATANE RESIDENT

How a detainee at the Whenuroa camp, at Strathmore, escaped from lawful detention and subsequently returned on his own accord, was related to Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court, at. Rotorua last Monday. There was no doubt that accused had left because of a personal worry and had fully intended to return, slated the police, but lie should have, approached the authorities for permission to leave. This sort, of action Avas definitely bad for discipline, and if allowed to develop, would cause endless trouble to the authorities. Michael Mollick, the detainee concerned, formerly of Wlxakalane, had been found missing from the camp on February 9 last, stated Dctecti\ r c-Sergeant A. J. White. He had been sent to Whenuroa in April lasTd Accused had returned to the camp on February 12 andi, Ay hen questioned had admitted that, he liad gone Vaway, changed into civilian clothes—which he had had ready— and travelled to Auckland to find out for himself certain domestic matters with which he was concerned. "There is no doubt that he is truthful but, possibly, if lie had approached the authorities' lie may have been al'loAved permission to leave,'' declared the Detective-Ser-geant.. Accused, who stated that he Avas, a Canadian/, told the Bench that he had been worried about a domestic maiiter. He submitted a letter to the magistrate to the cause of j his anxiety. ! "I Avill take into consideration this; trouble," replied Mr Freeman, who convicted and sentenced accused to one month's imprisonment*.-