Thomson used alias for escort: court told

Former federal MP Craig Thomson allegedly spent $28,449 of Health Services Union money on personal expenditure including escorts, a court has heard.

Former federal MP Craig Thomson used the alias Jeff Thomson when he used union funds to pay for an escort named Tracey at a Sydney motel, a court has heard.

The funds were part of the $28,449 of Health Services Union (HSU) member fees that prosecutors allege Thomson misused.

The Melbourne Magistrates Court heard on another occasion Thomson used union funds to catch a taxi to a Sydney brothel named Tiffany's Girls, where he used a union credit card to pay $418 for sexual services in the "Red Turbo Spa Room".

Prosecutor Lesley Taylor said Thomson would then instruct HSU staff to enter the allegedly misused money as legitimate expenses in the HSU accounts.

Magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg on Tuesday struck out 78 of the 224 dishonesty charges Thomson faced for allegedly using union credit cards to withdraw cash and pay for items including escorts and hotel rooms while national secretary of the HSU and a Labor MP.

He ruled that those charges could not be heard in Victoria.

Crown prosecutors will fight that ruling in the Victorian Supreme Court later on Wednesday in a bid to have the charges reinstated.

The hearing in the magistrates court continues.


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Source: AAP

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