Disgraced former NSW minister Eddie Obeid faces possible jail time after being found guilty of wilful misconduct in public office.
The one-time Labor powerbroker, 72, once boasted that he had a "one per cent" chance of facing charges despite being branded corrupt by the state's Independent Commission Against Corruption following a probe into lucrative retail leases at Sydney's Circular Quay.
But it took a NSW Supreme Court jury less than a day of deliberations to find that Obeid committed a crime in 2007, when he lobbied then-Maritime Authority deputy chief executive Steve Dunn about a long-running dispute over lease renewals at the prized foreshore strip.
Obeid's three-week trial heard he was involved through a trust in a company called Circular Quay Restaurants, which owned two businesses on wharves four and five.
But he failed to disclose this when he rang Mr Dunn and asked him to meet a negotiator acting on behalf of leaseholders.
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Obeid did not give evidence in his defence during his trial at Sydney's Darlinghurst courthouse and had little to say to reporters after the verdict was handed down.
"No comment, no comment, no comment," he said as he waded between the waiting cameras and stepped into a white Range Rover on Tuesday afternoon.
Before he was driven away he added: "Thank you for coming."
Crown Prosecutor Peter Neil SC did not oppose bail for the former politician but indicated he would push for a jail term when Obeid faces sentencing proceedings in August.
Former NSW Labor premier Kristina Keneally has welcomed the verdict.
"It's good to see some justice being delivered," she told Sky News.
"It's a good day for the criminal justice system in NSW."
She said the Labor party felt "an extraordinary sense of betrayal", over the criminal behaviour of the former party powerbroker.
She also added it was "a good day for ICAC", which was instrumental in revealing Obeid's corruption.
NSW Premier Mike Baird has also indicated that Obeid could now be stripped of his parliamentary pension.
"Like the rest of NSW I am appalled by what has transpired," Mr Baird said in a statement.
"I have sought urgent advice on what action may be taken, noting there is recent parliamentary precedent."
