MP's jurors told to put politics aside

Jurors who will hear the case against a former Government minister accused of bribery and corruption were yesterday told they must put aside their political views.

Justice Rodney Hansen told the seven women and five men the accused - former Labour Mangere MP Taito Phillip Field - was a "prominent political figure" and if any jurors had strong political views they must put those aside with any other preconceptions.

Field maintained not guilty pleas to 12 charges of corruption and bribery and 23 of wilfully perverting the course of justice.

The trial, in the High Court at Auckland, is expected to run up to 12 weeks, and jurors were yesterday discharged soon after empanelling so they could make arrangements before the hearing.

It is alleged Field accepted work on seven of his properties by Thai nationals in return for giving them immigration assistance between November 2002 and October 2005.

He was New Zealand's first sitting MP to be charged with bribery and corruption.

The Crown will call about 50 witnesses.

The trial will resume this morning with an opening address by Crown prosecutor Simon Moore, SC.