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Judge Robert Hesketh
In January 1997 Judge Robert Hesketh appeared before a district court, and pleaded guilty to eight charges of fraud. The charges related to $815 worth of false accommodation and travel expense claims while employed as a judge in the Whangarei District Court. Hesketh repaid the money before being fined $8,000 and ordered to pay $2,000 costs.
Hesketh, 40, appeared before a seven member law practitioners disciplinary tribunal in September 1997 which ordered that he be struck off the roll of practising barristers and solicitors. While he can apply for reinstatement at any time, his promising career as a district court judge has ended.
Judge Martin Beattie was similarly charged but he successfully defended 45 charges of expense claim fraud and was discharged. His defence was that he honestly, but mistakenly believed he was entitled to claim expenses even though he did not incur them. This led to a major debate within legal, Government and media circles as it was reported Hesketh had accepted advice from Beattie, his senior, on how to fill out expense claims.
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In January 1997 Judge Robert Hesketh appeared before a district court, and pleaded guilty to eight charges of fraud. |
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