topic Re: Brothel Owners To Testify In Craig Thomson Case in Community Spirit

Brothel Owners To Testify In Craig Thomson Case

icyfroth — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 04:09:52 GMT

PROSECUTORS have started to call brothel owners to give evidence in their case against former MP Craig Thomson, who is defending allegations he used union funds to pay for porn and prostitutes.

Prosecutors allege Mr Thomson used union credit cards to hire escorts, pay for X-rated movies, withdraw cash, buy cigarettes and pay for interstate flights for himself and his wife.

Brothel owner Peter Lazarus, who owns A Touch of Class in Sydney's Surry Hills, told the court services cost $300 an hour plus a 10 per cent fee for credit card payments.

The court heard a $660 transaction was listed on a credit card used by Mr Thomson while he was HSU secretary.

The amount was recorded as being paid to "Staff Call", the merchant name of A Touch Of Class, the court heard.

Earlier, the court heard Mr Thomson has access to several credit cards and was the only union official who could withdraw cash from at least one of the cards.

HSU honorary national president Lloyd Williams told the court union cards didn't have the facility to allow users to withdraw cash.

He said he learnt Mr Thomson could withdraw cash from his card following an exit audit conducted after Mr Thomson left the union.

"I was flabbergasted. It was unheard of," he said.

"I didn't understand why a union official would need to withdraw cash."

Link To Article

Who's been a naughty boy, then?

Re: Brothel Owners To Testify In Craig Thomson Case

catsnknots — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 05:02:41 GMT

one of his credit cards was a surprise to the finance committee.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/craig-thomson-credit-card-a-surprise-health-service-union-financial-committee-member-tells-court-20140120-313ye.html

Re: Brothel Owners To Testify In Craig Thomson Case

donnashuggy — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 05:10:02 GMT

These rorts are terrible, should be a royal commission into them

Re: Brothel Owners To Testify In Craig Thomson Case

silverfaun — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 05:18:34 GMT

This appalling excuse for a man was shielded by Gillard & a go slow by "Fair Work Australia" an oxymoron, for years.

This is an example of how the rot has gone to the bone in Labor and no matter how many of them are exposed Obead, Tripodi, Dastayri et al, there is no end to them.

Shorten asked the whislte blower union hack to "move on" nobody's interested any more. What does that say about Showbag?.

Re: Brothel Owners To Testify In Craig Thomson Case

donnashuggy — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 05:20:42 GMT

You can't really shield them in court can you silverfaun?

Let's hope all of these shonks in the liberal party are given the same treatment, eh?

Re: Brothel Owners To Testify In Craig Thomson Case

freakiness — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 05:29:51 GMT

@donnashuggy wrote:
You can't really shield them in court can you silverfaun?

Let's hope all of these shonks in the liberal party are given the same treatment, eh?

Let's hope the real shonks are unearthed. The whole Thomson case is like a charade.

Why bring in the brothel owner. I noticed there was only one mentioned. He didn't exactly say Thomson had been there, judging by the way it's reported. It looking more and more like he is the scape goat.

What sort of auditors don't notice how many credit cards people have?

What sort of finance committee don't know how many credit cards are active?

Re: Brothel Owners To Testify In Craig Thomson Case

poddster — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 05:34:43 GMT

@freakiness wrote:

What sort of auditors don't notice how many credit cards people have?
What sort of finance committee don't know how many credit cards are active?

Labor ones

Union ones

Re: Brothel Owners To Testify In Craig Thomson Case

pct001wine — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 05:43:57 GMT

Looking forward to Somlyay getting his day in court

Re: Brothel Owners To Testify In Craig Thomson Case

cherry*135 — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 11:08:50 GMT

@pct001wine wrote:
Looking forward to Somlyay getting his day in court

Yes, more than $300 + 10% gone astray threre.

Re: Brothel Owners To Testify In Craig Thomson Case

freakiness — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 00:23:17 GMT

@icyfroth wrote:
PROSECUTORS have started to call brothel owners to give evidence in their case against former MP Craig Thomson, who is defending allegations he used union funds to pay for porn and prostitutes.

Prosecutors allege Mr Thomson used union credit cards to hire escorts, pay for X-rated movies, withdraw cash, buy cigarettes and pay for interstate flights for himself and his wife.

Brothel owner Peter Lazarus, who owns A Touch of Class in Sydney's Surry Hills, told the court services cost $300 an hour plus a 10 per cent fee for credit card payments.

The court heard a $660 transaction was listed on a credit card used by Mr Thomson while he was HSU secretary.
The amount was recorded as being paid to "Staff Call", the merchant name of A Touch Of Class, the court heard.

Had a tape dropout occurred on Monday’s proceedings, it may have erased any record of the whole appearance on the stand by jet-setting former brothel owner, Peter Lazaris, whose entire testimony lasted no more than five minutes and, as both Greg James and the magistrate pointed out, could have been covered by simply reading an entry on one of the credit card statements.

Mr Lazaris, who was not summoned to appear by either the prosecution or the defence, apparently volunteered of his own volition and out of the goodness of his heart, to fly from Sydney to Melbourne to appear at the hearing yesterday.

Before Mr Lazaris was called by the prosecution, Greg James, QC, appearing for Craig Thomson, objected, telling the court that

“… calling this witness serves an obvious purpose.”

It soon became very clear what purpose Mr James meant.

Jet-setting brothel owner Peter Lazaris (Image by Luis Ascui via smh.com.au)

Mr Lazaris’ sum contribution consisted of confirming he once owned the A Touch of Class brothel; that it used an alias identity – ‘Staff Call’ – when it billed credit cards; that it destroyed all its photographic and accounting records after six years; and that he’d instructed his madams to obtain ID when processing credit card transactions — hardly the sort of material this writer would consider worthy of a Murdoch broadsheet using in its hysterical headline and 17 paragraphs of titillating testimony.

After lunch, the second row of seats in courtroom #22 were somewhat emptier than before this witness’ brief appearance; the vultures had been fed.

Which was, of course, the only purpose Lazaris served.

Re: Brothel Owners To Testify In Craig Thomson Case

tezza2844 — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 00:32:29 GMT

May be of interest to read the unabridged account of the days proceeding http://www.independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/craig-thomson-trial-day-one-what-you-didnt-hear-about-in-the-old-media,6081

Re: Brothel Owners To Testify In Craig Thomson Case

***super_nova*** — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 00:44:05 GMT

Thanks, well worth the read:

"For example, the public were not told that the next witness, Jan Armstrong, an HSU life member and former member of the Union’s committee, was issued with an HSU credit card in 1993 at the insistence of the then national committee for her use while she attended a meeting in Canada to support the Union and the trade union movement. But playing games on Facebook in court took precedence over her testimony to those whom Murdoch media’s Ean Higgins once described as “professional journalists”.

Ms Armstrong testified that she had discovered irregularities in Jeff Jackson’s credit card usage — then, later, at the lead-up to a branch election, Jeff Jackson falsely claimed that she had misused her credit card. This was shown to be a baseless allegation, and the subject of a defamation action from Ms Armstrong, from which Jackson was forced to settle and withdraw his accusations. "

Re: Brothel Owners To Testify In Craig Thomson Case

freakiness — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 01:55:33 GMT

@tezza2844 wrote:
May be of interest to read the unabridged account of the days proceeding http://www.independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/craig-thomson-trial-day-one-what-you-didnt-hear-about-in-the-old-media,6081

Haha, I forgot the link 😄

Re: Brothel Owners To Testify In Craig Thomson Case

freakiness — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 00:55:43 GMT

http://www.independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/craig-thomson-trial-day-2-more-of-what-you-didnt-hear-in-the-msm,6084

Re: Brothel Owners To Testify In Craig Thomson Case

the_great_she_elephant — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 03:55:52 GMT

@donnashuggy wrote:
You can't really shield them in court can you silverfaun?

Let's hope all of these shonks in the liberal party are given the same treatment, eh?

Why does it need to go to court anyway, if our right wing brigade here has already pronounced him guilty on all charges? Can't we just hang him now and save ourselves the expense of evaluating evidence?

Re: Brothel Owners To Testify In Craig Thomson Case

spotweldersfriend — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 04:01:24 GMT

If he is found to be innocent,I hope the libs call a royal commission.I just love RC's 🙂

Re: Brothel Owners To Testify In Craig Thomson Case

pct001wine — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 04:30:14 GMT

Royal Commissions - music to the ears of the legal fraternity.

Whenever a Royal Commission is announced "pop" goes the French bubbles in Chambers. Specially when it comes gift-wrapped and unnecessary like the "Pink Batts" one.

Re: Brothel Owners To Testify In Craig Thomson Case

pct001wine — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 04:38:26 GMT

I can't imagine that the brothel owner spilling all in court would do much for his business. I mean, who would go there now, knowing that your personal details aren't safe ?

This will run shivers through the judiciary, the police force, politicians and assorted "Captains of Industry"

Who knows, a few of those in the court - on both sides of the bench - could be on his current client list, no doubt studiously avoiding eye contact during his testimony

Re: Brothel Owners To Testify In Craig Thomson Case

freakiness — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 05:01:40 GMT

@pct001wine wrote:
I can't imagine that the brothel owner spilling all in court would do much for his business. I mean, who would go there now, knowing that your personal details aren't safe ?

This will run shivers through the judiciary, the police force, politicians and assorted "Captains of Industry"

Who knows, a few of those in the court - on both sides of the bench - could be on his current client list, no doubt studiously avoiding eye contact during his testimony

Apparently he is no longer the owner.

According to the article he wasn't even summoned to appear. He offered.

Re: Brothel Owners To Testify In Craig Thomson Case

spotweldersfriend — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 05:08:40 GMT

I knew one of 'em-a working gal.One of her customers was a judge who liked her sitting on his back and digging cowboy spurs into his ribs:-D