Wrong use of medals leads man to resign from board

Former RSA president Donald Moselen. Photo / APN

A former Returned Service Association president sentenced for using a document for pecuniary advantage has resigned as a member of the Otaki community board.

A spokeswoman for the Kapiti Coast District Council today confirmed Donald Moselen's resignation.

The 73-year-old appeared at Levin District Court yesterday for sentencing over charges relating to mounting of Vietnam war medals paid for with RSA money.

He was ordered to pay $63.20 reparation to the Otaki RSA for the cheque he used and a further $500 to the welfare fund that would assist returned servicemen and women and their families.

In May this year Moselen was fined the maximum penalty of $500 for wearing wearing Vietnam medals he was not entitled to.

Moselen's lawyer Daniel O'Neill said there was no suggestion of fraud, rather it was an opportunist act.

He told the court that Moselen had already suffered a great deal of humiliation and disgrace in the eyes of the community.

In her summing up Judge Atkin referred to Moselen's history dating 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.