Man On $500 False Pretences Charge (Press, 31 December 1969)

On 29 December 1969, in Wellington, a 39-year-old man identified as Tamati Wana Pohatu, who also went by the name Thomas Edward Stone and was described by police as a transvestite, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court charged with false pretences. Pohatu pleaded guilty to a charge related to obtaining $500 under false pretenses between 9 November and 4 December. He falsely claimed to be pregnant and stated that the money was necessary for a medical procedure to ensure the normal birth of a child. The case arose after Pohatu met a complainant at the Purple Onion striptease club on 8 November, while dressed in women's clothing. Following their meeting, the complainant invited Pohatu to stay with him at his home, where they lived together for about a week. During this time, Pohatu told the complainant that he was pregnant and needed $500 for an operation, suggesting that without it, he would be unable to give birth, or the child would be stillborn or deformed. The complainant felt obliged to give Pohatu the money, believing it was for a legitimate medical need. However, the prosecutor clarified that Pohatu, being a man, could not possibly conceive a child. Instead of using the money for a medical procedure, Pohatu reportedly spent it on surgery to enlarge his bust. Magistrate R. D. Jamieson noted that there was no objection to bail from the prosecutor and pointed out that remanding Pohatu in custody would raise complications. Pohatu was subsequently remanded on bail of $200, with sentencing scheduled for 21 January 1970.

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