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The Supreme Court has dismissed Independent MP Taito Phillip Field's attempt to appeal against a High Court decision allowing police to lay charges against him.
Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias and Justices John McGrath and Noel Anderson issued their decision today.
Field, a former Labour MP, had sought to appeal the original High Court decision, which gave police leave to charge him, but this was rejected by the Court of Appeal. He then went to the Supreme Court earlier this month.
His lawyer Simativa Perese had argued that the process of seeking leave of the High Court - required before charges could be laid against an MP - was not part of criminal law which meant it could be appealed.
The Supreme Court disagreed.
"We consider it to be clear beyond argument that although a leave decision is preliminary and in that sense separate, it is so linked to the subsequent criminal process that may be initiated if leave is given that it becomes part of that process."
Mr Perese said his client accepted the decision.
"Mr Field thanks the Supreme Court for its decision and he looks forward to his day in court," he said.
He was pleased the court had treated the case seriously and promptly.
Field had earlier decided not to hold up the case against him while the higher courts made their decisions and his case is set to be heard in April.
The Mangere MP faces 15 charges of bribery and 25 of obstructing or perverting the course of justice.
The charges arose out of allegations made against Field over work done on properties he owned by Thai immigrants seeking to stay in New Zealand and over information he gave a subsequent inquiry.
- NZPA
