Kathryn Eriksson, the wife of convicted former Federal MP Andrew Theophanous, has written to Julia Gillard in an attempt to clear her husband’s name.
In the letter, a copy of which Dr Eriksson sent to Neos Kosmos, she asked the Prime Minister to intervene to establish a public judicial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding her husband’s convictions.
“I hope and pray that you will act to set up this inquiry in the interests of justice,” said Dr Eriksson in the letter, adding that the PM could “right a grave wrong” by her intervention. The letter describes how County Court judge Jeanette Morrish, who dismissed one of the four charges of which Dr Theophanous was initially convicted, had roundly condemned the actions of the former National Crime Authority (NCA). Judge Morrish said in her 2006 judgment that the conduct of the NCA “seriously calls into question the integrity of all previous proceedings”.
Dr Eriksson is using Judge Morrish’s comments to support her appeal to the PM to investigate “the unlawful and improper actions of the former NCA.” The NCA has denied any wrongdoing in its investigation and prosecution, which related to Theophanous’ alleged involvement in migration fraud. In 2002 Dr Theophanous became the first Australian politician convicted of accepting bribes and spent nearly two years in jail.
Dr Theophanous said that he hoped his wife’s plea would lead to a retrial on his three remaining convictions. “I am confident there is enough new evidence to prove my innocence,” Dr Theophanous said. In December the Attorney-General allegedly told Dr Theophanous that the government would move to stop his lifetime pension. Dr Theophanous has said he had been prevented from submitting a retrial petition because authorities were refusing to provide him with documents relating to his case.
