Craig Thomson fraud trial: Melbourne Magistrates Court expected to hand down decision today
Posted 13 minutes ago

Craig Thomson
PHOTO: If found guilty, Craig Thomson faces a maximum sentence of five years' jail. (AAP: David Crosling)
RELATED STORY: Evidence against Thomson only circumstantial, court toldRELATED STORY: Prostitute's witness statement reveals Thomson was 'regular client'
MAP: Australia
The Melbourne Magistrates Court is today expected to hand down its decision in the criminal trial of former federal MP Craig Thomson.

Thomson has pleaded not guilty to 145 charges of theft and deception relating to the alleged misuse of his union credit card while national secretary of the Health Services Union (HSU).

It is alleged he used the card to pay for prostitutes, pornographic movies and other personal expenses totalling more than $28,000.

If found guilty, he faces a maximum sentence of five years' jail.

A large number of prosecution witnesses were called to give evidence at Thomson's trial, including HSU officials.

Whistleblower Kathy Jackson, who took over as national secretary when Thomson resigned in 2007, described the union as "being like a cult".

A forensic accountant for Victoria Police testified that the money spent included almost $6,000 at a Sydney brothel.

Gerard Curtin said the HSU's accounting system recorded the brothel spending as "entertainment", "teleconferencing", or national office meeting expenses.

One prostitute who used the name Misty also revealed Thomson was a "regular client" who always had a glass of champagne waiting for her.

However, whether or not Thomson used the HSU credit card to pay for expenses such as prostitutes was not the issue in the case.

Thomson did not make any admissions to the court, but the fact the transactions were made was disputed by the defence.

Union authority to use card the crucial issue

Instead, the crucial issues for the court to consider were whether Thomson had the union's authority to use his card for personal expenses and what his state of mind was when he used the card.

Thomson's lawyers argued he had discretion to authorise union expenditure of up to $50,000 without running it past the union's national executive.

Several union witnesses, including the former auditor, also told the court they believed there were no concrete written rules stipulating what union funds could be spent on.

Making the closing submissions for the defence, Greg James QC told the court Thomson had not deceived the union to obtain any property or financial advantage.

He said the prosecution's case was "circumstantial" and had failed to meet the necessary burden of proof.

Fit of Absent Mindeness wrote on Feb 18^th, 2014 at 8:58am:




WHY?... I guess you are not in favour of FAIRWORK then??.. as for it being a laugh...you dont mind small unions with poorly paid members being ripped off..??....

he wasnt alone you know.. but he was the only one with brothels on his credit card.

if he is found not guilty I wonder what will happen to Williamson and Jackson.......

Ah. Today. The sheer chutzpah of this fellow is incredible.

Bold as brass. An exaggerated sense of entitlement to other people's money.

cods wrote on Feb 18^th, 2014 at 9:02am:


so you've already decided that no matter what the courts find, Thommo is guilty? 

cods wrote on Feb 18^th, 2014 at 9:48am:


Why do you think that, cods?

I hope they hang the lousy thief.

Never play poker with this man.

145 charges against him, and he kept a straight face in parliament, and to a thousand media cameras.

progressiveslol wrote on Feb 18^th, 2014 at 11:21am:

Craig Thomson fraud trial: Court hands down guilty verdict
Updated 7 minutes ago

Craig Thomson
PHOTO: Craig Thomson was found guilty of obtaining financial advantage by using his HSU credit card. (AAP: Quentin Jones)
RELATED STORY: Evidence against Thomson only circumstantial, court told
MAP: Melbourne 3000
Former federal MP Craig Thomson has been found guilty of obtaining financial advantage by using his Health Services Union (HSU) credit card to pay for sexual services and making cash withdrawals.

In handing down his findings in the Melbourne Magistrates Court, Magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg found Thomson dishonestly used his union cards while national secretary of the HSU.

The magistrate said the court had heard from several union witnesses who made it clear that union credit cards were for business purposes only.

"This must have been known by the accused," Mr Rozencwajg said.

The magistrate acknowledged there was some grey area defining what constituted business use, but he said it would be an affront to think the card could be used to pay for sexual services.

The magistrate is continuing to deliver his ruling on 145 charges.

Thomson was also found guilty of using his card to pay for cigarettes and of some charges relating to paying for spousal travel with his union credit card.

All charges relating to the misuse of union funds to pay for adult movies have been dismissed.

Thomson had pleaded not guilty to the 145 charges of theft and deception relating to the alleged misuse.

It was alleged he used the card to pay for prostitutes, pornographic movies and other personal expenses totalling more than $28,000.

A large number of prosecution witnesses were called to give evidence at Thomson's trial, including HSU officials.

Whistleblower Kathy Jackson, who took over as national secretary when Thomson resigned in 2007, described the union as "being like a cult".

A forensic accountant for Victoria Police testified that the money spent included almost $6,000 at a Sydney brothel.

Gerard Curtin said the HSU's accounting system recorded the brothel spending as "entertainment", "teleconferencing", or national office meeting expenses.

One prostitute who used the name Misty also revealed Thomson was a "regular client" who always had a glass of champagne waiting for her.

However, whether or not Thomson used the HSU credit card to pay for expenses such as prostitutes was not the issue in the case.

Thomson did not give any evidence in the court, but his lawyers did not deny he visited prostitutes and did not dispute evidence he had used his union credit card to pay for their services.

Union authority to use card the crucial issue

Instead, the crucial issues for the court to consider were whether Thomson had the union's authority to use his card for personal expenses and what his state of mind was when he used the card.

Thomson's lawyers argued he had discretion to authorise union expenditure of up to $50,000 without running it past the union's national executive.

Several union witnesses, including the former auditor, also told the court they believed there were no concrete written rules stipulating what union funds could be spent on.

Making the closing submissions for the defence, Greg James QC told the court Thomson had not deceived the union to obtain any property or financial advantage.

He said the prosecution's case was "circumstantial" and had failed to meet the necessary burden of proof.

Prosecutor Lesley Taylor SC reiterated his case that Thomson, as the national secretary, was bound by the rules of the union to use to use union credit cards for official business only.

He argued Thomson lied about his conduct in media interviews and this incriminates him.

However, Mr James told the court that his client was under great pressure at the time of doing those interviews, given his failing marriage and desire to protect his parliamentary career and image, and he was not thinking that what he said would eventually be used against him in a criminal case.

In the past, Thomson has claimed he was set up.

Topics: courts-and-trials, unions, fraud-and-c