FORMER federal MP Craig Thomson called himself "Jeff" when hiring escorts paid for with a union credit card, a court has heard. 
 
Prosecutors have finally started outlining their fraud case against Mr Thomson, detailing in court for the first time allegations he used union funds to pay for porn and prostitutes.

It has taken almost 12 months for the case to be fully aired in courts after months of adjournments and legal arguments between prosecutors and Mr Thomson's high-powered legal team led by prominent QC Greg James.

In the Melbourne Magistrates' Court this morning, lead prosecutor Lesley Taylor started outlining 66 individual incidents in which the Crown says Mr Thomson fraudulently used the credit card while he was Health Services Union boss between 2002 and 2007.

Among them was an incident in Sydney when he allegedly withdrew cash to pay for an escort from a company called Young Blondes.

On another occasion he withdrew $300 from an ATM in Federation Square for personal use, it was alleged.

Police have alleged that Mr Thomson made seven separate payments for escort services between 2003 and 2007, including $2475 to Keywed, which trades as Sydney Outcalls, $660 to A Touch of Class and $770 to Boardroom Escorts.

The court heard one of the alleged escort dalliances was in the "red turbo spa room" at Sydney brothel Tiffany's Girls, and cost $418.

But many of the charges relating to those incidents were among 79 withdrawn yesterday after magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg ruled the court didn't have jurisdiction to hear the charges because the alleged offending didn't occur in Victoria.

The DPP is planning to appeal the decision in the Supreme Court but this morning failed in a bid to have the matter adjourned pending the appeal.

An appeal could take 12 months to finalise, the court heard.

Mr Rozencwajg said yesterday prosecutors had been given more than enough time to prepare their case against Mr Thomson.

"I don't see the problem with proceeding with what we've got," he said.

"You've had so much time in this case. it's about time you bite the bullet."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/former-mp-craig-thomson-used-union-funds-t...

Armchair_Politician wrote on Dec 4^th, 2013 at 1:45pm:

Yes dear  did he bowl the maidens over?

Armchair_Politician wrote on Dec 4^th, 2013 at 1:43pm:


Steady on there Mr Rozencwajg. We've had the super sleuths from FWA on the case for the last 4 years. The FWA investigators are still looking for a bloke by the name of Jeff.

salad in wrote on Dec 4^th, 2013 at 2:59pm:




wasnt there a cricketer called Jeff Thomson..

of course it was him all along.. bugger

Armchair_Politician wrote on Dec 4^th, 2013 at 1:45pm:



Perhaps 'Roger' may have been more appropriate...??

Vic wrote on Dec 4^th, 2013 at 3:36pm:


Maybe you should give the old slapper Pansi a bash   

Vic wrote on Dec 4^th, 2013 at 3:41pm:

I can understand that! You have standards to uphold   

Kat wrote on Dec 4^th, 2013 at 3:30pm:


No, I'm thinking "Ben Dover" would suit him perfectly.