Nelson barman convicted

05/02/2008

A 39-year-old Nelson barman has today been sentenced to six months home detention, and ordered to pay $77,000 reparations for theft and failing to bank gaming machine profits.

Damian Richards pleaded guilty to a representative charge of theft by a person in a special relationship, and another of failing to bank gaming profits.

Richards was the venue manager of a bar operating gaming machines, on behalf of the Trillian Trust, when he failed to bank a total of $77,684.83 between 7 October 2004 and 30 June 2005.

During the investigation into the missing gaming machine profits Richards told the Department of Internal Affairs he had no idea where the missing money had gone.

Internal Affairs’ Director of Gambling Compliance, Mike Hill, said that there are strict rules under the Gambling Act 2003 for the handling of gaming machine money.

“Gaming machine operators have a responsibility to ensure that the maximum amount of gaming machine profit is returned to the community,” Mike Hill said.

“This sentencing sends a clear message that failure to bank gaming machine profits will be detected, and will not be tolerated.”

Media Contact:

Ronnie Anderson, communications adviser, Department of Internal Affairs
Ph 04 494 0570; cell 0274 719 464

Mike Hill, Director Gambling Compliance, Department of Internal Affairs
Ph 04 495 9449; cell 021 979 427