MP linked to prostitutes

THE federal Labor MP Craig Thomson's mobile phone records, driver's licence details and credit card vouchers with his signature show he used a Health Services Union credit card to pay for the services of a Sydney escort agency, the Supreme Court was told yesterday.

The court was hearing legal argument in a defamation case brought by Mr Thomson, the Labor member for Dobell, against Fairfax Media, publisher of the Herald. The paper last year published allegations concerning the use of a credit card issued by Mr Thomson's then employer, the Health Services Union.

Fairfax's barrister, Sandy Dawson, told the court credit card statements for $2475 and $385 in Mr Thomson's name showed two entries in the name of Keywed Pty Ltd Restaurant in Surry Hills, on April 9, 2005 and August 16, 2007. That company name was linked to the escort agency Sydney Outcalls, he said, and it was not unusual for adult services to make the entry on financial records ''look like a culinary experience rather than a more sensual one''.

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The credit card vouchers for the transactions were issued in Mr Thomson's name, were signed and noted a driver's licence number. According to subpoenaed RTA records, a licence with that number was issued to Mr Craig Robert Thomson of Bateau Bay. NSW drivers' photo licences can be used to verify a person's identification.

Mobile phone records for a number listed as Mr Thomson's on a 2006 union press release showed two calls to phone numbers associated with the escort agency, Mr Dawson told the court.

Around midnight on April 8, 2005 and on August 16, 2007 the records show a call to a number listed on the internet as belonging to the service. The records of August 15, 2007 also show calls placed in Bateau Bay in the morning as Mr Thomson had ''plainly come down the Pacific Highway down from Bateau Bay … to Sydney'', Mr Dawson said.

According to documents filed with the court, the calls were made to telephone numbers for ''Sydney Escorts - Room Service'' and ''Sydney Escort Connections'', both apparently associated with the Sydney Outcalls escort agency.

Mr Thomson has strongly denied using the credit card to pay for the services of an escort agency or other adult services. In court yesterday his barrister repeated his denials that he had signed the credit card vouchers or used ''the services in question''. ''These facts are hotly contested,'' Sue Chrysanthou said.

Mr Dawson alerted the court to the records, contained in an affidavit filed in court, when arguing Fairfax had properly sought an order for costs relating to dispute in the process of discovery for the defamation hearing.

Mr Dawson said Mr Thomson had supplied only an ''unverified list'' in which he listed no credit card documents for discovery.

But Mr Thomson's barrister responded by saying Fairfax had acted unreasonably and its original motion for discovery was ''ridiculous''. Ms Chrysanthou argued Fairfax was trying to ''bully and harass'' Mr Thomson and ''take advantage of their superior financial position and resources''.

''We never defended the motion … We just wanted the matter resolved, we just wanted the proceedings brought on,'' she said before Registrar Christopher Bradford, who reserved his decision on the application.

Mr Thomson is suing Fairfax over a series of articles dating from April 2009, claiming, according to his statement of claim, he has been defamed by suggestions he had been guilty of using his HSU credit card fraudulently and he had dishonestly used his employer's credit card to pay for the services of prostitutes.

Fairfax denies defamation and says the articles are true.

smh.com.au 7 Dec 2010

Another case of misuse of public monies.

If a member of the public defrauds the government, jail is a real alternative.

If a member of the government defrauds the public, rewards are given out.

The JUSTICE system at its best.