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Former NSW MP Daryl Maguire has appeared in court after being charged with criminal conspiracy over alleged visa fraud.
The former Wagga Wagga MP appeared for a brief mention in Sydney’s Downing Center local court on Tuesday.
Maguire’s case will return to court on March 21 for a proof of indictment, but he is exempt from traveling from Wagga Wagga to attend.
Maguire, 63, was charged in November but has not yet entered a plea and his conditional bail continued on Tuesday.
His attorney Jim Harrowell told reporters outside court that he has yet to hear the case against him.
“I literally have a USB in my pocket that has been served, that’s the assignment, which is a few weeks late, so once I read that, we’ll know what to do,” he said.
Between January 2013 and August 2015, Maguire allegedly conspired with migration agent Maggie Sining Logan to violate migration law.
He faces jail time or a fine of up to $34,000.
Maguire resigned from NSW Parliament in 2018 following an anti-corruption investigation, which later exposed his secret romantic relationship with former Prime Minister Gladys Berejiklian.
There is no indication that Ms. Berejiklian was involved in any alleged crime.
Although forced to give truthful testimony to ICAC, Maguire admitted that he used his position as MP, Parliamentary Secretary and NSW Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Friendship Group Chairman “for the purpose of making money” for himself and his associates between 2012 and 2018 .
More than once, Maguire said he had accepted the delivery of thousands of dollars in cash to his parliamentary office to enable him to take his part.
“Evidence presented in ICAC is not admissible in this court case, that is the law,” Mr Harrowell said out of court.
Maguire told reporters he was “good” when he left with his lawyer.
– MONKEY
