Appeal Against Sentence For Bribery Fails

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31115, 19 July 1966, Page 12

Appeal Against Sentence For Bribery Fails

(N.Z. Press Association)

AUCKLAND, July 18.

By attempting to bribe a police officer, Murray Stewart Riley, a former detective-ser-geant of the New South Wales police force, had fallen victim to the power of money, Mr Justice Hardie Boys said in the Supreme Court today. He dismissed an appeal by Riley against the sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment, imposed by Mr F. McCarthy, S.M., on July 1. Riley, aged 40, a company director of Bondi, Sydney, and an Empire Games gold medallist, had pleaded guilty to giving Detective-Inspector

Edward Graham Perry a bribe of £4OO to induce him to forgo his duty. Dismissing the appeal, the Judge said he fully accepted submissions made in the lower court and in the appeal hearing about Riley’s excellent sporting record and his reputation in Australia. But, as a former member of the police force in New South Wales, Riley must have known that his offer of a bribe struck at the foundations of justice. Riley had let himself down, together with his friends in the sporting and business world. “A fine is out of the question,” said the Judge. “Money is available, and there is too much of it.” Mr P. A. Williams, for Riley, submitted that the 12months’ sentence was “manifestly excessive” considering that it was Riley’s first offence and he had a hitherto excellent background.