on 18-12-2014 02:35 PM
Former federal MP Craig Thomson has been spared a jail term, but fined $25,000 for using union money on "self-indulgent" spending on prostitutes and fine dining.
The former Labor member for the NSW seat of Dobell was this week found guilty of 13 counts of theft, related to the withdrawals of $5650 from ATMs while using HSU credit cards, money he was not authorised to use on himself.
He was found not guilty of 49 fraud charges because Judge Douglas found the prosecution had worded the charges incorrectly.
Thomson was, in March, sentenced to three months in jail, with a further nine months suspended, after a magistrate found him guilty of the 65 theft and fraud charges. But he did not serve any jail term because his lawyers launched an immediate appeal.
A court case lasting years costing the taxpayer millions of dollars and all he gets is a $25.000 fine and an order to pay $5620 back to the HSU.
Got out of jail time because "the prosecution had worded the charges incorrectly." I wonder what happened there?
on 18-12-2014 02:44 PM
Ridiculous case to go ahead with, he should have been made to pay the money back, like other pollies have done.
18-12-2014 02:45 PM - edited 18-12-2014 02:46 PM
LOL.. all the bluster posted on here in the past... none of it came true.
on 18-12-2014 02:47 PM
How much jail time did they give Tone for going to Port Macquarie to compete in a triathlon and billing the Tax payers for his meals and accommodation? Oh and the $600 to attend Peter Slippers wedding and there's more but I can't be bothered looking for them
on 18-12-2014 02:50 PM
A court case lasting years costing the taxpayer millions of dollars...... theres a few of those initiated by Abbott & his cronies that were non events, along with Royal Commissions ( no new outcomes that weren't already known).
on 18-12-2014 02:51 PM
George Brandis repaid $1,700 he claimed from the tax payers to attend radio announcer Michael Smiths wedding.
on 18-12-2014 02:56 PM
Department of Finance records also show Mr Abbott has used travel entitlements to take his family to AFL Grand Finals and Derby Day in Victoria. The family trips cost taxpayers more than $10,000.
A charter flight to the Tamworth Country Music Festival, which Mr Abbott attended with one of his daughters, last year cost $8800.
18-12-2014 03:00 PM - edited 18-12-2014 03:02 PM
but fined $25,000 for using union money on "self-indulgent" spending on prostitutes and fine dining.
Are you sure about that?
13 counts of theft, related to the withdrawals of $5650 from ATMs while using HSU credit cards, money he was not authorised to use on himself.
No mention of prostitutes there.
on 18-12-2014 04:56 PM
Lets hope he sinks into oblivion where he belongs. A shameful reminder of labor politics which protected him and paid $250.000 to avert bankruptcy to to keep supporting the Gillard government.
What was it that Julia Gillard said on the floor " I have complete confidence in him and will continue to do so for a long, long, long time."
Ain't karma a B, got her and got him.
on 18-12-2014 08:19 PM
" I have complete confidence in him and will continue to do so for a long, long, long time."
Sounds similar to what Abbott said about Sinodinos.. lets see how that pans out early next year. (ICAC).