ACCOUNTANT ADMITS THEFT OF £447

Chronicle (Levin), 26 August 1947, Page 5

ACCOUNTANT ADMITS THEFT OF £447

GISBORNE, August 23. Cliarges of obtaiuing £169 by valueless cheques issued in June and July in Gisborne, Wairora, Opotiki and Palmerston- North and tlie theft of £4.47 of clients' funds were admitted by Jolm Maleolm Ivay, aged 41, an accountant, before justices in Gisborne. The money involved in the theft charges representeil payments by various people to acc-used to be forwarded to the Comniissioiier of Taxes. Detective-Scrgeant Waterson said that when interviewed accused admit ted having eashed a number of cheques in June and July when he had no funds in the bank and he did not expect. there would be any money to meet them. William Henrv Strattoii, an accountant, said that accused started work for hini in .1 944 011 accused 's return from overseas service. In October, 1946 witness sold his business to accused. Early in June, 1947, witness was approached by the solieitors for aecused's mortgagees and asked to repAirchase the business. He agreed on condition the business was in good order. Witness continued that he investigated the business with the assistanee ! of accused and found that Ivay had converted to his own use sums amounting to £447 10s 7d which should have been paid on behalf of clients to the Commissioner of Taxes. Accused had given witness every assistanee in locat ing the shortages. Accused pleaded guilty to all charges and was conimitted to the Rupremt Court at Wellington for sentence.