SUPREME COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1933, Page 3

SUPREME COURT

plea for probation REJECTED.

(Per Press Association — Copyright.)

AUCKLAND, February 20. A plea for probation for Yenion Barakat, aged -21 (Air Inderj, who had admitted. 31 charges of theft ais an officer of the Post and Telegraph . Department, whs rejected by Mr Justice Hcrclman in th e Supreme.. Court.

Mr Inder said 'the total amount involved was only £2B. Prisoner was married and had two young children. iHe had been in the Department for seven year®, ar.d had a good record. Restitution could he mode from what he had paid into the superannuation fund. He would lose his position, which a very severe penalty. His wage had been only a little over £2 a week.

His Honour said it was essentia] in the pnblic interest that peopla should have confidence "in the integrity of the Postal Department. It had not" been the policy or the practice of Judges in the erse of young men who had been stealing from the Postal Department to release them on probation. Certainly this was r.ot a carlo where he could do so. The police report said prisoner was living apart from his wife and not fnllv maintaining her. H e would be sentenced t 0 be detained for reformative purposes for a period not exceeding two years. ..