on โ26-11-2013 12:08 PM
Former federal MP Craig Thomson will face more charges as prosecutors attempt to clarify the details of his alleged misuse of union credit cards.
Thomson, 49, is accused of misusing credit cards to pay for female escorts and X-rated movies while he was national secretary of the Health Services Union (HSU) and a Labor MP.
Prosecutor Lesley Taylor SC told the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday that about 50 new charges would be lodged against Thomson, after his lawyers complained of duplicity within the existing 173 charges.
Thomson is charged with 11 counts of theft, 31 counts of obtaining property by deception and 131 counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception.
Ms Taylor said there was no new criminality alleged against Thomson.
In most of the charges the alleged victim was the HSU, she said.
"He is deceiving the union by saying that this transaction is a union expense and not a personal expense," she told the court.
However, Thomson's barrister Greg James QC said the structure of the case against his client meant it was "doomed to failure".
Ms Taylor said negotiations between prosecutors and Mr James will continue before the matter returns to court on Monday, when the hearing is scheduled to start.
Magistrate Charles Rozencwajg extended Thomson's bail until Monday.
on โ26-11-2013 03:29 PM
they found more cups of coffee bought on the HSU card .. a newspaper too i heard
when is Abbott going to pay back his entitlements ?
on โ26-11-2013 04:55 PM
I like the way you downplay that Lakey, when it goes against the grain.
A bit like Martini and her "handful of students" burning the Aussie flag"
on โ26-11-2013 05:10 PM
i downplay it because it's no longer particularly relevant, and the majority of charges are similar, things like newspapers. the HSU card had no restrictions on its use so i wonder what the result will be ? they laid those new charges as the others are about to go to mediation apparently. Abbott is another matter, he is in office and needs to pay the taxpayer back.
on โ26-11-2013 05:42 PM
on โ26-11-2013 06:26 PM
@lakeland27 wrote:i downplay it because it's no longer particularly relevant, and the majority of charges are similar, things like newspapers. the HSU card had no restrictions on its use so i wonder what the result will be ? they laid those new charges as the others are about to go to mediation apparently. Abbott is another matter, he is in office and needs to pay the taxpayer back.
LL, this is about Craig Thomson Not tony Abbott so stay on subject please.and stop trying to muddy the waters.
on โ26-11-2013 06:28 PM
nope. i'll talk about whatever suits me.
on โ26-11-2013 06:29 PM
@icyfroth wrote:
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I like the way you downplay that Lakey, when it goes against the grain.
A bit like Martini and her "handful of students" burning the Aussie flag"
x5 : Icy
Did you happen to notice this or didn't this mean much to you ?
Mr Abbott has had to repay more than $9,000 in taxpayer funding, including the use of official "comcars", which was spent on travel to promote his book Battlelines in 2009.
Controversial former Liberal National Party MP Peter Slipper has complained about the case because he is facing legal action over travel expense claims of less than $1,000.
"No credit to justice when cases are treated differently. Abbotts amt was $9400 and he has been let off," Mr Slipper, who now sits as an independent, posted on Twitter yesterday.
Mr Slipper said the Opposition Leader had been given preferential treatment.
But, facing persistent questioning today in a press conference during a visit to a Sydney pie-making business Mr Abbott said it was a mistake that has been dealt with and was "old news".
"The Labor minister at the time was perfectly satisfied that there had been nothing that was deliberately done wrong and the matter was closed," he said.
"I think I've fully dealt with it, time to move on."
When pressed further, he accused the Prime Minister of stirring up the issue.
"Why is Kevin Rudd now trying to dish this sort of dirt?" he said.
?
on โ26-11-2013 06:31 PM
@lakeland27 wrote:nope. i'll talk about whatever suits me.
That's OK but can you please address the relevent subject not go off on your own little tangent, start another post if you need to talk about something not assockiated with the heading.
on โ26-11-2013 06:37 PM
i think it relevant.