Field loses appeal, remains in prison

14 years ago

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Disgraced former politician Phillip Field has failed to overturn
his conviction on fraud charges or have his six-year jail sentence
reduced.

Field was jailed in October last year after being convicted by a
jury in the High Court in Auckland of 11 charges of bribery and
corruption as a Member of Parliament and 15 charges of perverting
the course of justice.

He was charged after then prime minister Helen Clark ordered an
inquiry into allegations Field had traded immigration favours for
tiling, painting or plastering work on his properties in New
Zealand and Samoa by Thai nationals.

The Court of Appeal released its decision today and said Justice
Rodney Hansen had correctly interpreted the law, directed the jury
and allowed evidence.

It also found the convictions were right and the sentence should
be upheld.

The perversion of justice charges were very serious, the finding
said.

“Field had been manipulative and adaptive and not only lied
himself, but procured others to lie as well and create false
documents in an endeavour to head off the consequences of his
wrongdoing. Had he succeeded, serious criminal offending would
likely have gone undetected.

“The High Court judge was therefore correct to reflect those
concerns in the sentence imposed on Field,” he said.

Field remains in prison.