Police probe of former MPs expenses
The Herald reports:
A former Government minister is being investigated by police for allegedly using his ex-MP perk of taxpayer-funded flights on business trips and then claiming driving mileage from the charity he headed.
Detectives have executed search warrants on the Auckland home of Roger McClay, a National Party MP for 15 years, and seized financial records from Keep New Zealand Beautiful, of which he was the chairman.
Former staff and fellow board members have also been interviewed by police.
Mr McClay, 64, is under investigation for allegedly invoicing the environmental organisation for the cost of driving mileage, but taking a taxpayer-funded flight instead.
As a former MP, Mr McClay is entitled to the 90 per cent subsidy for 12 domestic return flights each year. No charges have been laid and he has denied any wrongdoing.
He said he was disappointed at the length of the police inquiry but declined to comment further.
The inquiry has been on-going for a long time. It seems it was initiated between December 2008 and February 2009, and the search warrants referred to were executed in June 2009 – six months ago.
Not much comment one can make, without knowing if the allegations are true. The fact the case is unresolved after 12 months suggests it is not clear cut. No doubt at some stage the Police will either lay charges or close the file.
December 5th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
“—— and seized financial records from Keep New Zealand Beautiful, of which he was the chairman.”
Good grief when is Key going to set Rodney on to closing down all these useless jobs for the boys quangos so the opportunity to rort the system no longer exists?
December 5th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
GREED”””’These outrageous perks and Political Patronage after retirement inevitably results in abuse of the system. I have no doubt that this type of abuse is widespread. The only impediment is personal integrity and few of our representatives seem to display much of it. If a majority of them had it the perks would disappear.
December 5th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
DPF
We all know how this story ends. The Police say it is not in the public interest to prosecute and we all move on. The opposition scream that he should be charged and the govt say move on.
December 5th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
The parasites from all political parties appear determined to live the life of Reilly at our expense.
They do not mind cooking the books, creating family trusts, hiding behind legal constructs, bogus expense accounting, double dipping, moving residence, and any available trick to get their snouts deeper in the trough.
They are true servants of the NZ public, aren’t they?
December 5th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Makes you wonder how this got into the media, if he was on trial he would get name suppression more likely than not. Must be someone with loose lips.
December 5th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. Hope the pontificating, moralising twat gets what’s coming to him, and it will teach him not to be such a busybody.
December 5th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Another FoW (Friend of Winston)… it’s like the man is Kryptonite to the political career of anyone who tried to help him (the writer being ample evidence of this).
But while I, Gilbert Myles, Ross Meurant and now it seems Roger McLay have (or soon will be) examined under a microscope the man himself seems insulated from any scrutiny, driving about in his ex-Ministerial car and no doubt spending our $158,000 on a plate of scampi or two.
Almost enough on which to concoct a conspiracy theory… where’s Ian Wishart when you need him?!
December 5th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Rex
Write an unauthorised biography of the man, have the last laugh.
December 5th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
burt:
Heard the saying “any publicity is good publicity”?! What if I were to be responsible for reviving his political fortunes?! It’s like burying a vampire… the stake’s through his heart, the coffin lid’s nailed shut, let’s not reopen the crypt
December 5th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
This story reminds me of the MP back in the 90′s convicted of fraudulently mis-using parliamentary taxi chits. He got name suppression and has been able to reinvent himself quite successfully, I suspect because his offending is not widely known due to the suppression order. How very topical right now.
December 6th, 2009 at 1:27 am
Chris2 – everyone around Wellington knows Mr X Taxichit XX.
December 6th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Anthony – not only around Wellington. I cringe when I hear him.