Thai tiler tells jury he worked on MP's house for permit help

Sunan Siriwan (L) told the court Mr Field had said he would help him get a work permit. Photos / Kenny Rodger, Greg Bowker

A Thai tiler told a jury that former MP Taito Phillip Field had asked him to do some work on his house in Samoa in exchange for help with his work permit.

Sunan Siriwan, who was giving evidence at the High Court in Auckland today, earlier told the court he had lived illegally in New Zealand for five years after arriving on a three-month permit.

Field faces 15 bribery and corruption charges alleging he allowed several Thai nationals whom he was helping with immigration issues to work on seven of his properties for little payment other than the costs of materials between November 2002 and October 2005.

He also faces 25 charges alleging he attempted to obstruct or pervert the course of justice during an inquiry into the corruption allegations held by Noel Ingram QC and to a subsequent police inquiry.

Mr Siriwan said he first came to New Zealand on January 17, 1997 from Thailand.

He obtained a three month visitors permit, but did not leave when it expired.

He lived in Glen Eden and started work as a tiler. He told the court he stayed on illegally after his permit expired.

Mr Siriwan said he observed people outside his house several times and he thought they might be immigration officers so he moved house.

Crown prosecutor David Johnstone asked Mr Siriwan if he went to attend an appointment to see Field, to which Mr Siriwan replied "yes".

"I met Taito in his office," Mr Siriwan said.

"Taito asked if I was interested in doing some work for him as a tiler on his house in Samoa, and in return he would help me get a work permit," Mr Siriwan said.

The trial is into its ninth week of a scheduled 12 weeks.

Proceeding.

- NZPA