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Will Craig Thomson finally give us some relief?

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noco said:
Yes Doc and it is not going too well for him ATM.
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Not well at all.

The court heard on Wednesday the prosecution believed the question of whether Mr Thomson was authorised to use the credit cards for personal use was the sole outstanding ''live'' issue, as the mechanics of the charges and the transactions were no longer in dispute.

But Greg James, QC, for Mr Thomson, said his client's ''state of mind'' was also likely to be a point of difference when the parties made their closing submissions.
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http://www.smh.com.au/federal-polit...-entertainment-court-told-20140122-318r9.html
 


Richo was on the ball and commenting from out of politics was the most honest in what was said. Tash also clearly realised the score, but her defence of the theatre of Craig Thomson's speech in the House of Reps at that time is now condemning of the overall credibility of the majority there at that time. I'm sure that wasn't the intention.
 
This late last week from the AFR is also interesting,

Public release of documents unearthed during the investigation *was sought by the Coalition in *opposition through a Senate inquiry in 2012 *but Labor’s then chair of the committee, Gavin Marshall, blocked the release, *citing the potential for the *misinterpretation of the evidence and privacy concerns.

Now the court process has brought some of that evidence into the public realm. Among dozens of witness *statements and documents the *Melbourne Magistrates’ Court has released in recent days is a memorandum detailing $770 spent in May 2005 at a “dinner function”.

Bookkeeper Belinda Ord told the court that the words “Internat Immobilior” were written in Mr Thomson’s handwriting on the memorandum.

That followed earlier evidence *International Immobiliare is the *trading name of escort agency Boardroom Escorts in Sydney.

The damning document was included in the dossier provided to the Senate committee that was blocked from public release.

At the time of the decision *Mr Thomson provided the government with a crucial supporting vote from the crossbench even though he had been expelled from the Labor Party.

Coalition senator Eric Abetz at the time described the file as a “treasure trove” and accused Labor of holding onto the documents to protect Mr Thomson. Senator Marshall did not respond to detailed questions when contacted by AFR Weekend.
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http://www.michaelsmithnews.com/201...-gillard-but-not-about-craig-ok.html#comments

http://www.afr.com/p/national/labor_blocked_damning_evidence_release_jRsSk7GlMn6EbBGWOg5ujP
 
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-...3a-court-told-no-one-else-could-have-/5222554

Craig Thomson fraud trial: Prostitute's witness statement reveals union official was 'regular client'

A prostitute has revealed former Labor MP Craig Thomson was a "regular client" who always had a glass of champagne waiting for her.

In witness statements tended to the Melbourne Magistrates Court this evening, the escorts describe being shocked when the charges against Thomson made national headlines.

One prostitute who used the name Misty says she met the then-national secretary of the Health Services Union (HSU) on at least six occasions and provided sexual services.

"I have seen him on TV and in the media deny that he used the services of prostitutes," she said in her statement.

"He is lying and I am in no doubt that the Craig I performed a number of sexual services for over a period of time is Craig Thomson the politician."

She said she noticed he did not wear a wedding ring.

Her statement recalls how Thomson would always have a glass of champagne ready and often paid to extend her services, sometimes just to chat.

The court earlier heard there was a matrix of evidence that showed it was Thomson and no-one else who misused union credit cards.

Thomson faces 145 criminal charges of obtaining financial advantage and property by deception.

The charges relate to Thomson's alleged spending of HSU funds on brothels, escorts, pornography and other personal expenses while he was national secretary between 2002 and 2007.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

In closing arguments, prosecutors told the court that masses of evidence, including receipts phone records and bank statements, show that Thomson used HSU credit cards to spend thousands of dollars on escorts, brothels and pornography.

Using a specific event in Sydney in May 2005, prosecutors say records show Thomson checking into the Westin Hotel where phone calls were made from his room to an escort agency.

The court heard that $770 was charged to the union credit card later that night.
 
How are the last threads of the defence looking ?

But in summing up the case, prosecutor Lesley Taylor told the court it was "self-evidently absurd" that a written policy was necessary for "intelligent, experienced union officials, particularly for Craig Thomson" as a former lawyer, to be aware that he could not use his union funded credit cards for whatever he liked.

She said if Thomson "honestly believed there was some loophole somewhere," he would not have had to "partake in subterfuge" to mask his transactions.

Documents released by the court last week show Thomson's credit card statements were at odds with some explanations he gave to the union.

On one occasion, his card showed funds had been spent at a Sydney brothel and Thomson had claimed the expense as meetings at the union's national office.

Ms Taylor told the court Thomson had also made admissions in a voluntary interview to Fair Work Australia that there was no legitimate reason for his spending of union funds on escort services and expenses for his then-wife.

She also accused Thomson of telling lies to the Australian media.

Ms Taylor focused on the union's rules, which she argued clearly showed union funds were only to be spent for the benefits of members.

"There is nothing in the registered rules that allows the national secretary or anyone else to use union funds for personal benefit," she said.

"He knew what these expenses were, lax auditing or insufficient auditing... doesn't change his behaviour or authorise him to continue."

Ms Taylor said the evidence showed Thomson would regularly hire R-rated movies and then contact a brothel and that that conduct was part of his "personal behaviour" while using a union account.

The defence is yet to make its closing argument.
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That closing argument will require some interesting gymnastics.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-...3a-court-told-no-one-else-could-have-/5222554
 
There are some strange people in this world...:eek:
 

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rumpole said:
I doubt he'll get the slammer. Good behaviour bond probably
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That would be seen as a miscarriage of justice in the eyes of the public, especially given his former public profile and his denials, both inside and outside the parliament.
 
PRIME Minister Tony Abbott will today call on the parliament to issue the apology on behalf of all MPs to the people accused of corruption by the convicted fraudster and disgraced former Labor MP.

The extraordinary move was flagged in a notice of motion tabled last night by the leader of the house Christopher Pyne.

And Labor will support the Coalition move, it emerged today.
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I'm of the view that Craig Thomson himself should be hauled up before Parliament to apologise.

http://www.news.com.au/national/pri...pport-from-labor/story-fncynjr2-1226836427057
 

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