Cannabis plants Postmaster admits fraud COMMENT
seized in raid CANNABIS plants were de- stroyed after Kent Police dis- mantled a cannabis factory in Loose. About 70 plants and cultivat-
ing equipment, including lamps and fans, were seized when Kent Police raided an outbuilding in Salts Lane, Loose, after receiving informa- tion that cannabis was being grown in the property. The war- rant was part of Operation Infi- nite, which is running across theMaidstone district through- out the summer months to tar- get drug use in the area. Detective Constable Chris
said: “This production facility was a professional set-up, capa- ble of producing high-quality cannabis. It is very satisfying when criminals are disrupted in this manner and Kent Police will continue to work with the people of Kent in making their county an even safer place to live and work. We are grateful to the continued supportwe re- ceive from members of the pub- lic and investigations are ongoing into locating those in- volved in producing cannabis.” Anyone who suspects illegal
drugs activity to be taking place in their community is asked to contact Kent Police on 101, or call Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
A SUB-postmaster who admit- ted fraud has been spared a jail sentence.
Kangasunderam Prince, 60,
took more than £48,000 from Tovil Post Office, to pay off his debts. He admitted fraud, but was sentenced to 12 months’ im- prisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered to undergo treatment for alcohol abuse. He was also placed under a tagged curfew from 8pm to 7am for fourmonths, and ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work. An audit in July last year re- vealed that £48,010 was miss- ing from the post office accounts, Maidstone Crown Court heard. Officials tried to get hold of Prince to call him in to the post office, but when they
went to his home hewas drunk. William Martin, prosecuting,
said that Prince could not ex- plain why there was a shortfall, only that his financial position was not very good. The court heard Prince, of
Alma Place, Strood, had fallen into debt and borrowed money and used post office money to keep the business going. TomStern, defending, said he
then started drinking. He tried to remortgage the premises but was unable to because of the credit crunch. He then put the property up for sale. Judge Philip St John-Stevas
said he had agonised over sen- tencing, but said the damage to public confidence in the post of- fice had to be taken into account.
Centre fit to party CURVES fitness centre in Senacre Square hasmarkedits fifthanniversary ataparty at the Mercure Great Danes Hotel with an awards ceremony, dinner and dance. Kirsten Joy, who appeared on the BBC programme The Voice, sang at the event, and ispictured withher mother PhillipaGill, who runs the franchise. Thewomen-only gym, whichwas opened
in 2007 by Dame Kelly Holmes, now has a membership of about 280 members, and over the last five years they have raised more than £5,000 for charity with events such as Zumbathons and food drives.
A popular man by Dennis Fowle
WHEN suddenly Prince was not behind the counter at Tovil Post Office last summer, cus- tomers and friends were sad- dened and mystified. He was a helpful, friendly
and charming postmaster who overcame unpleasant local problems to apparently build up his business in Tovil. Butwewere not aware of the financial turmoils that led him to Crown Court. I am not sur- prised the judge agonised over punishment – and decided prison was not appropriate.
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