KEY POINTS:
An MP facing dozens of bribery, corruption and obstruction charges yesterday fronted for a large media contingent outside Manukau District Court, but once inside tried to have photographers banned from taking his picture in the dock.
Taito Phillip Field - charged as Phillip Hans Field - faces 15 bribery charges after allegedly arranging immigration assistance in exchange for cut-price building work on properties he owns in Auckland, Wellington and Samoa.
The former Labour Party minister, now an independent MP, faces a further 25 charges of obstruction after allegedly making false statements, or attempting to procure false statements from witnesses, during subsequent police and independent inquiries into his activities.
The offending is alleged to have taken place from about 2003 to late last year, and is unique in that it saw prosecutors forced - for the first time - to go to the High Court to seek leave to prosecute an MP.
Ten witnesses are named on court documents, but prosecutors are expected to provide a list of others in coming weeks.
The 55-year-old entered no plea to all 40 charges, and was remanded on bail to a pre-depositions hearing at Manukau on December 12. His attendance has been excused at that hearing.
Much of yesterday's hearing was taken up with an attempt by defence lawyer Paul Dacre to prevent his client being photographed in the dock.
Mr Dacre said it would be unfair for such photographs to be published while an appeal against the laying of charges had yet to be heard in the Appeal Court.
A date has yet to be set for that hearing, but if the appeal was upheld it could see all charges against the MP dropped.
Mr Dacre's application for a ban on in-court photography was subsequently thrown out by Judge Charles Blackie, but Mr Dacre said he would appeal against that decision to the High Court.
The move forced Judge Blackie to impose a 48-hour ban on publication of the pictures, while the appeal was lodged.
Field arrived at court about 20 minutes before the hearing was to start.
He greeted waiting media saying, "It's time these matters were brought to an end". He was waved through the usual front-door metal detector and other security checks.
After his appearance, Field was allowed to sign his bail bond at the front counter rather than being sent to the bail room, as is normally the case with other defendants.
* THE CHARGES
Former Labour Government minister turned independent MP Taito Phillip Field faces 40 charges:
15 charges of bribery and corruption by an MP.
25 charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
He faces a maximum of seven years in prison on each of the charges.
