Al-anwar Newspaper English news in Australia
Ex-Wagga MP Darly Maguire has been charged by Australian Border Force officials over his alleged involvement in the “cash-for-visas” scam that sparked an inquiry by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption and ultimately brought about the resignation of his one-time lover, former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Maguire’s lawyer was served with a court attendance notice on November 7 ordering the former MP to front Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday on a charge of causing to be furnished false documents, and false or misleading information etc, relating to non-citizens, an offence under the Commonwealth Migration Act.
The offence is alleged to have occurred between January 2013 and August 2015, when Maguire was state MP for Wagga.
Court documents said it is alleged Maguire conspired with Maggie Logan (nee Wang) “to cause to be furnished for official purposes of the Commonwealth, documents in connection with applications for visas permitting non-citizens to remain in Australia, containing statements or information that was false of misleading in a material particular”.
Ms Logan was also charged over her alleged role in the scheme and faces 12 counts of causing the delivery of documents with false statements.
Maguire did not attend court in person on Tuesday, instead appearing via video link from his home in Wagga after his lawyer, Jim Harrowell, said flooding in the region prevented Maguire from attending.
Magistrate Susan Horan imposed bail conditions on Maguire at the request of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
As part of the conditions, Maguire is banned from communicating with or attempting to communicate with several Wagga businessman and community leaders including John Cassegrain, the head of Cassegrain Wines and ex-Wagga council general manager Alan Eldridge. Neither Mr Cassegrain or Mr Eldridge are accused of any wrongdoing and have not been charged.
The Australian Border Force, on Tuesday, told The Daily Telegraph they served Maguire with a court attendance notice on November 7, 2022.
“This follows an extensive investigation undertaken by the ABF associated with alleged visa and migration fraud, which also resulted in the arrest and charging of a female person of interest on 4 November 2022.
“As these matters remain subject to legal proceedings, it would not be appropriate to comment further.” The Independent Commission Against Corruption revealed Maguire was secretly dating then-Premier Gladys Berejiklian causing a seismic political scandal that ultimately ended Ms Berejiklian’s political career.
