Former Otaki Returned Service Association president Donald Moselen will have to pay back the $63.20 he stole, plus give $500 to the RSA welfare fund after pleading guilty to using document for pecuniary advantage.
Moselen appeared before Judge Lesley Atkin in the Levin District Court today for sentence on a charge that relates to the mounting of of Vietnam war medals paid for by an RSA cheque.
In May this year Moselen pleaded guilty to wearing medals he was not entitled to, and was fined the maximum penalty of $500. Moselen's lawyer Daniel O'Neill urged the court to see the matter in context, there was no suggestion of fraud, it was an opportunist act.
The use of the RSA cheque was one of convenience. As president he had previously procured and had medals mounted for members. Mr O'Neill told the court that Moselen had already suffered a great deal of humiliation and disgrace in the eyes of the community.
Judge Atkin in summing up referred to Moselen's history that dated back to 1958, but more recently 1990 and 1991 where he was convicted on charges of theft by failing to account and knowingly altering a document.
