DEFRAUDING THE CUSTOMS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2746, 26 February 1910, Page 2

DEFRAUDING THE CUSTOMS

METHODS OF A LONDON FIRM

[Teh Pit mss Association. | DUNEDIN, Feb. 25

Henry Frapwell, monumentalist, was fined £25 and costs at the .Police- Court to-day for making' a.* false declaration under the. Customs Act. Air Fraser, Crown, solicitor,., said that defendant •bad imported goods from the firm of Frank AVatts, London. Watts had sent him two invoices accompanied by a letter stating that for customs purposes the second invoice hud been enclosed, and on the invoice Watts had attached the usual declaration to be made by the shipper. This second invoice, had stated the value of the goods to lie less than was the actual fact. Frapwell had got the particulars for his declaration from tho second invoice. The declaration ; signed by • Frapwell stated that no invoice other than that handed over to the Customs authorities had been received, but in the second invoice it was stated tliat the. value of the goods on which duty was paid wiis £25, while the second invoice stated that the real value of the. goods was £32 4s, so that to save £7 the firm of .AVatts had tipped their customer into a very serious offence. The Collector of Customs was satisfied defendant was the victim of t.lie fraudulent practice of Frank AVatts._ An Auckland firm had been convicted on account of a similar act of the firm of Frank AVatts, of London. The- Magistrate, said'lie was quite satisfied that no moral blame was’ attachable to *-bc defendant.