CHINESE CLERK

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1929, Page 3

CHINESE CLERK

CHARGED WITH FRAUD. .By Telegraph—Par Press Associations AUCKLAND, May 2. In the Police Court, Albert Hong Duk, a Chinese clerk was charged with obtaining £oo from Sin Soo Young, a labourer, on March 12th. 1928, by fraudulently representing 'that lie required £7O to pay the Collector of Customs in Auckland to have Youyg’s permit to remain in New Zealand extended. Four similar charges of obtaining sums totalling £42 12s 6d from Young, and of receiving £33 from two other Chinese, and failing to account for the money, thereby committing theft, were also preferred against accused. Sin Soo Young said his real name was Fong Qtian Goon, hut accused hail told him he could not enter New Zealand under any other name than Sin Soo Young. Witness at this time wa> in Fiji, and arrived in Auckland in February or March, 1926. He detailed the various payments made to accused by witness and other Chinese, to secure an extension of a permit from the Customs Department. When witness was arrested last February for overstaying his permit he rang accused from the Newmarket Police Station, and accused told- him to say nothing about it, as he would get into trouble. Accused also told him that if he said nothing, he would get an extension of six months. “When I was brought before the Court, accused acted as interpreter for the Customs Department, which prosecuted,” continued complainant. “1 was fined £25, in default two months’ imprisonment, hut I did not kn nv that in Court. I knew afterwards about the fine and the default, but not until I went to gaol. As I had paid all my earnings to accused, I had no money to pay the fine. After being in prison for six weeks I was released on the representations of my solicitor. I was not represented by a solicitor when 1 was fined £25. I trusted accused. I never got any receipts for the money I paid him.”

Evidence was given by an official of the Customs Department, showing that no application for an extension of his permit had been. received from Young or on his behalf. Young’s story was corroborated by a number of Chinese witnesses. The hearing was adjourned until tomorrow.