Craig Thomson Found Guilty of Fraud

[icyfroth]

FORMER MP Craig Thomson has been found guilty of defrauding the Health Services Union of thousands of dollars to pay for porn and prostitutes.

A packed courtroom watched as Magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg, who has presided over Mr Thomson’s case since he first appeared in court last February, handed down his decision just after 11am AEST.

Mr Thomson, who has pleaded not guilty to 145 dishonesty charges over the alleged misuse of $28,449 between 2002 and 2008, has persistently denied any wrongdoing.

But police argued he used members’ funds while head of the HSU to pay for porn, prostitutes, travel for his then wife, and cigarettes.

During a lengthy contest hearing last month prosecutors tendered more than 80 witness statements including some from escort workers.

One, who used the name Misty, said she remembered Mr Thomson clearly.

She said she met him on a series of occasions while she was working for Room Services escort agency in Sydney’s Surry Hills between 2007 and 2008.

In her statement, tendered at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court during the hearing, the woman said she regularly met him in Sydney’s CBD.

He had introduced himself as Craig, a solicitor from the NSW Central Coast.

``Sex always occurred on the bed and he would shower before and after,’’ she said.

``On the occasions when Craig and I met, as part of my services he started by offering me a glass of champagne.

``From memory he already had the champagne ready.’’

They met on about six occasions, she said.

``He was a person who I noticed did not wear a wedding ring and did not speak of having a wife or whether he was in any form of committed relationship,’’ she said.

``He was one of three men who I would have called a regular client.’’

Mr Thomson’s defence barrister, Greg James, QC, said Mr Thomson did not deny making the transactions but argued about his authority to do so.

The case had been thrown into turmoil after closing submissions by both parties last month, when Mr Rozencwajg asked prosecutors about the wording of the charges.

He said many of the theft and deception charges were unnecessarily confusing and complex and may have been charged incorrectly.

More to come.

[tezza2844]

I think that there will be a few high profile members -former HSU branch officials “heading for hills “ after this judgement. Now that precedence has been set will we see these people charged for ripping off HSU members or will it be too political or “expensive ?.

[monman12]

FN: July 2013:     "Why not wait for the court ruling?" 

KDT July 2013:   "Party here when Thomson is found innocent?  I'll provide the (virtual) champagne"

The drought continues!

nɥºɾ

[lakeland27]

when is it kathys turn. after all she did the same thing, bought new volvos fgs. sitting with peter reith at a conservative dinner where she spoke.. HR Nichols society if i remember right.

if there is no rule to prohibit thommo's largesse, what is he guilty of anyway ? secretary of a union with no rules on use of cards, yet he;s guilty of breaking what rule ?

In John Gays case (former Gunns director , insider trading $1M aud. ) he walked away with a token punishment and those charges are more serious. thomson will walk. otherwise jacksons heading for the female lockup.

[lakeland27]

what joy, lost his job his marriage the lot. don't get between tone and his ambition is the best advice, ask pauline hanson

[monman12]

LL: "when is it kathys turn. after all she did the same thing, bought new volvos fgs."

We have had this "out" before LL, so your turn now and  produce the proof apropos the alleged buying of "new volvos".

LL:  "f there is no rule to prohibit thommo's largesse, what is he guilty of anyway ? secretary of a union with no rules on use of cards, yet he;s guilty of breaking what rule ?"

I suggest you study the findings, and ponder that he might  have broken a "rule" when he continued to use  the union card AFTER he had resigned and was no longer a  union official.

In my opinion Thomson,  was/is a grub.

    

[poddster]

Yes Thompson is a grub..............that is putting it kindly

[lakeland27]

 i'm not defending thomson i'm attacking the double standard  thomson may be a grub, but the guys on the other team kept tight-lipped in respect of slippers com car cruising for company in the red light district.. someone had michelle grattan shut up to protect him, as soon as he became speaker that stopped and knowing his weakness they attempted to set him up. cabinet played pimp. double standards alright.

[freakiness]

Magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg said Thomson “must have known” that using the credit cards to pay for escorts was not allowed under the union’s rules. However, he said buying movies while staying in hotels under union business did not meet the required standard to prove the charge of obtaining financial advantage by deception.

Rozencwajg said it did not matter that the movies were pornographic.

He said it was an “affront to common sense” that payments to escorts could ever be considered a legitimate expense.

Rozencwajg said it was clear Thomson had no authorisation to make cash withdrawals with the cards, and found him guilty of 16 charges of theft totaling $6,250. He said on some occasions Thomson was guilty of deception by using the cards to pay for his then wife, Christa, to travel, but not guilty over other occasions in which he paid for her flights and accommodation.

Thomson showed no emotion as the verdict was read. After the verdict was delivered, prosecutor Lesley Taylor SC unsuccessfully applied for Thomson to surrender his passport. However, Rozencwajg ordered that Thomson not leave Australia and remain at a static address.

All that expense for the grand total of $6,250.

A pittance when compared to the amounts claimed by some to attend weddings, fun runs and footy games.

A pittance when compared to what the so called whistle blower Kathy Jackson allegedly misused her credit cards and union accounts for.

And a tiny percentage of the half a million amount that was commonly reported on as being the amount he used for the past couple of years.

[newstart2380]

If he is guilty he deserves the punishment, no one made him do it and he thinks his only crime is getting caught. Commit the crime, do the time. We are talking about CT so pl LL stay on subject, I know you love to deviate to bag our PM every chance u get but try and stay focused. LOL