Permit expected after tiling work

A Thai tiler didn't expect to be paid for work he did for former Mangere MP Taito Phillip Field because he would get a work permit instead, a court has heard.

Sunan Siriwan travelled to Samoa to do tiling work at a property Field owned after meeting the then Government minister at his office.

"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 through an interpreter in the High Court at Auckland yesterday.

Mr Siriwan had worked in New Zealand illegally for five years after his three-month work permit expired.

Field is defending 12 charges of corruption and bribery as an MP and 23 charges of wilfully obstructing the course of justice. It is the first time a sitting MP has been charged with bribery and corruption.

The charges were laid after allegations he helped Thai immigrants with immigration matters in exchange for work they did on five of his properties between 2003 and 2005.

Prosecutor David Johnstone asked Mr Siriwan if Field talked about money after they met at his house.

"No I didn't talk about money ... but I would just work there and I get permit."

Mr Johnstone: "Was there any talk about expenses while you were there?" Mr Siriwan replied that, "Taito would pay expenses every week".

A friend who took Mr Siriwan to the initial meeting with Field referred to him as "Big Daddy" and said the only hope Mr Siriwan had if he wanted to stay in New Zealand was with "Big Dad's" help.

Mr Siriwan told the court Field paid for his air ticket to Samoa and also arranged for him to get a work visa to enter Samoa. He later gave Field $400 and [another Crown witness Keith Williams] $300 for wet weather gear.

While he was in Samoa Mr Siriwan said he worked "no less than eight hours" a day and worked most days.

"There were no weekends for me".

From time to time he went to the beach, at about 6pm, but didn't go on picnics. He went out, to get pizza, twice.

IN COURT

The accused: Former Mangere Labour MP Taito Phillip Field

The charges:
* 12 counts of bribery and corruption as an MP
* 23 counts of wilfully obstructing the course of justice

The trial: The first time a sitting MP has been charged with bribery and corruption