Stolen $17,222 was repaid, Court told

Press, 6 February 1986, Page 4

Stolen $17,222 was repaid, Court told

Compensation had been paid in full by a man convicted of stealing $17,222 from his employer, counsel, Mr K. J. Searle, said in the District Court yesterday. The defendant, aged 45, who admitted the offending which occurred between December 25 and January 31 last year, was granted interim suppression of his name by Judge Fraser. He was remanded at large to early March for sentence. As a result of information received from the defendant, said Sergeant

G. C. Jones, an audit was carried out at the branch of the organisation of which he was the manager. The sum of $17,222 was found missing, and the matter reported to the police. It was found that the defendant had paid the stolen amount in full before the police were involved. The defendant said he had spent the money gambling, said Sergeant Jones. He added that the police were aware of the defendant’s extensive psychiatric background. It was because of this, and the fact his client was receiving regular psychiatric treatment, that Mr Searle sought the interim suppression order. LIQUOR CHARGE An airwoman who admitted receiving $4OOO worth of liquor, the proceeds of a hotel burglary, was discharged without conviction. Pauline Margaret Teresa Cooney, aged 22 (Mr R. J. Murfitt), was,

nowever, ordered to pay $lOO towards the cost of the prosecution. Sergeant M. P. Caldwell said that at 2 a.m. on January 9, the premises of the Sandridge Hotel in Colombo Street was burgled and 200 bottles of spirits, valued at $4OOO, were stolen. This was taken to the defendant’s nearby flat. When police arrived soon after they found 196 unopened bottles. Cooney, who was under the influence of alcohol at the time, told police she was angry with the offenders for taking the stolen liquor to her flat. The burglary was committed by some drunken visitors to the flat, who had been invited there by an associate of the defendant, said Mr Murfitt. At the time his client was “confused and befuddled” by the predicament in which she found herself. Cooney only had charge of the stolen liquor a matter of minutes before the police arrived and

apprehended the burglars. Mr Murfitt sought a discharge without conviction for Cooney. DEPOSITIONS Two men charged with producing a substance containing morphine, and other constituents of opium, were remanded to May 12 for the taking of depositions. Brent Gary Gardiner, aged 21, a labourer, and Antony William Robertson, aged 24, a baker’s labourer, are jointly charged with committing the offence between January 7 and 21. Robertson faces additional charges of stealing a $4OO bicycle, and receiving a $250 bicycle, early last year. When the pair initially appeared last week, bail was refused. Yesterday Mr Garrett obtained continuation of the $2OOO bail bond granted each defendant in the High Court. The defendant is charged with committing the offence between December 25, last year, and January 31.