Thai tiler tells court he lied to cover for MP

Sunan Siriwan (L) was giving evidence at the trial of former MP Taito Phillip Field. Photos / Kenny Rodger, Greg Bowker

A Thai tiler today admitted that he lied to a New Zealand lawyer about work he was doing on Taito Phillip Field's house in Samoa, allegedly in exchange for a work permit.

Sunan Siriwan, giving evidence at the High Court in Auckland today, said he did not tell the truth because he felt sorry for the ex-MP.

He was worried that if he told the truth there would be nobody to help him get back to New Zealand.

Field has denied 15 bribery and corruption charges alleging he got Thai nationals to work on seven of his properties in exchange for help with immigration issues.

He has also denied 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 first came to New Zealand on January 17, 1997 from Thailand and has admitted living illegally in New Zealand for five years after arriving on a three month permit.

Mr Siriwan was today shown a written document containing his interview with a New Zealand lawyer on November 17 and November 18, 2005, about his trip to Samoa.

He told the jury that some of his answers in the document were true and some were not.

He said he lied because he felt sorry for Field as he was having problems.

Field was expelled from the Labour Party in 2007.

- NZPA