Banks guilty on electoral charge

What corrupt scumbags!  John Banks found guilty of corruption but can stay in Parliament because 'he hasn't been indicted'!!

Banks found guilty on electoral charge

ACT MP John Banks says he is disappointed at being found guilty of filing a false electoral return - a decision which could lead to him losing his seat in Parliament.

Radio NZ,

5 June, 2014

Justice Wylie delivered his verdict before a packed public gallery at the High Court in Auckland on Thursday.

Banks was charged with knowingly filing the false return over his failed Auckland mayoralty campaign in 2010. As he stood to receive the verdict, the MP for Epsom blinked and jutted his chin into the air when the word "guilty" was read.

The Crown said Banks allowed donations from SkyCity and internet businessman Kim Dotcom to be recorded as anonymous, even though he knew where the money came from.

Justice Wylie heard nearly two weeks of evidence, as well as submissions from Crown prosecutor Paul Dacre, QC, and Banks' lawyer David Jones, QC.

Releasing his decision, the judge said he was sure Banks knew that the return was false when it came to two $25,000 donations from Mr Dotcom. However, he was not persuaded beyond reasonable doubt that Banks knew the return was false in relation to one of SkyCity's donations.

Justice Wylie also rejected accusations that Mr Dotcom and others were behind a campaign trying to unseat Banks and bring down Prime Minister John Key. He said he considered that Mr Dotcom, his estranged wife Mona Dotcom, and their former bodyguard Wayne Tempero as reliable witnesses.

John Banks faces a maximum sentence of two years' jail or a fine of $10,000. Such a conviction would trigger a rule for the MP to give up his seat, but his lawyer on Thursday asked Justice Wylie for the conviction not to be entered.

That means Banks can stay in Parliament for the rest of the term, as the day it will be decided if he is convicted won't happen until 1 August - the day after the House rises before the election on 20 September. Banks has already stated that he won't stand for Parliament again.

Radio New Zealand understands Banks is to seek a discharge without conviction.

The judge will then decide whether the consequences of a conviction would outweigh the seriousness of the crime. If the judge rejects the application, then he will be convicted.

Outside court, John Banks said he was surprised by the verdict and would look at what he could do next. He repeated his claim that he would never knowingly file a false return.

"We were hoping that it would become a very sunny day. We are disappointed with the verdict. We are surprised with the result. Now ... I talk to my legal team David Jones, QC, about options that we have going forward."

Retired Wellington accountant Graham McCready was behind Banks being charged and originally took a private prosecution over the matter, which was later taken up by the Crown.

On Thursday, Mr McCready said it had been a long road, but he was stoked with verdict. Pursuing the case had taken a toll on his life and health, but he did not regret it, he said.

"I wouldn't have it any other way. I've been an advocate for 50 years and this is, I guess, my finest hour."

Graham McCready after 

John Banks verdict

John Banks Found Guilty!!! Here’s What I Would Like To See!

So the Judge found John Banks guilty? Great! Here is what  I would like to see as punishment. No, I know what you’re thinking, you’re thinking the guillotine as I have given people in the past the guillotine award when they showed themselves to be of the “let them eat cake” persuasion.

Travellerev,

5 June, 2014

I would like to see the guillotine saved for the real scumbags when their time comes: The bankers (and yes that includes John Key) judged by not a jury of their peers because we all know what happens then, royalty, Corporate bigwigs could all be handed to the guillotine operator after a proper court convicts them of the crimes they are committing. Crimes against humanity for example, Ecocide is another and war crimes I would also like to have them judged by but John Banks… John Banks other than a venal corrupt little servant of the system is nothing compared to those people. He reminds me of the little town scumbag who after years of venality, greed and small time corruption (I mean what the fuck, only $ 60.000 in total. That is peanuts!) gets his comeuppance. And only gets his comeuppance because otherwise powerless people (No offense P. you’re an epic battler), aided by one really rich dude he pissed off a bit too much cooperate to bring his little empire down.

So I would like the punishment to reflect his puny worthless little life he used to destroy and bully otherwise perfectly nice people in pursuit of his own venal little dreams. And I have come up with another wonderful medieval contraption: The Pillory!

I suggest that for three days he will be nailed to the pillory (and I am happy for him to have a good night sleep in Kim Dotcom’t cell with a nice thin mattress before being nailed to the pillory again every). I would extend an open invitation to the people he has bullied or otherwise terrorized with his venal, greedy, corrupt, sleazy self promotion  to come when they please and during that time throw a selection of rotting food, eggs and fecal matter in his face. See… I am not even promoting anything really nasty. No pain, no poison (Although he may wish for that of course in the course of his punishment) but oh, I almost forgot he will be required to wear a different best suit he paid for himself every day this happens!

Now for the Prime Minister who thought it was a good idea to have a cup of tea with John Banks so he could piggyback a ride with John “this government is stable” Key….