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Banks said thanks for donations - report

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Banks said thanks for donations - report

3News NZ

John Banks and Kim Dotcom

John Banks and Kim Dotcom

Donations from internet tycoon and piracy accused Kim Dotcom to ACT MP John Banks were deposited in Queenstown so it would appear they had come from "as far away as possible", the man who banked them is reported to have said.

Dotcom put $50,000 into Mr Banks' campaign fund for the Auckland mayoralty in 2010, in two cheques made out for $25,000.

Police are investigating whether Mr Banks knew where they came from, because he listed them in his election return as anonymous.

Under the Local Electoral Act, candidates must declare the source of donations if they knew where they came from.

Dotcom's former employee, who didn't want to be named, told the Dominion Post he personally wrote out the cheques on the account of Megastuff, the Megaupload founder's company.

He also said Mr Banks called Dotcom's bodyguard Wayne Tempero to say thank you for the donations - which Mr Banks has denied doing.

"I got a phone call from Wayne saying the funds had gone in because John phoned to thank him. You don't have to be a genius to figure out that (Mr Banks) knew," the former employee said.

Mr Banks has told Prime Minister John Key he didn't know who made the donations, and Mr Key has taken him at his word.

Mr Key is rejecting opposition demands for Mr Banks to be stood down from his ministerial portfolios while the police inquiry is under way.

Mr Banks has also rejected claims from Labour MP Trevor Mallard that Dotcom organised a discount for him to stay at a hotel in Hong Kong last December.

NZN

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Comments

4/05/2012 5:23:30 p.m.

John wrote:

@John: Mr Key had credibility? When?

4/05/2012 11:33:38 a.m.

Jane wrote:

Mr Banks should be arrested and thrown into jail

4/05/2012 11:32:30 a.m.

David wrote:

Absolute corruption cant be done any better than it is by Right Wing parties. Their membership (mid level managers) stole 280 million dollars out of the economy alone last year. Thats 100 time the amount of benefit fraud... but right wing parties like to pretend they are squeaky clean. Generally they are the most corrupt however. National would have been howling like little children at labour if this were happening to them... however what National are doing is denying the inevitable as it could cost the party everything. So they are clinging on... and the longer they cling on to John Banks stench.. the dirtier they smell themselves. Just remember... National have never had an ethical/moral back bone.. ever. John Key himself said ethics dont matter in this case.

4/05/2012 10:43:12 a.m.

Ruz wrote:

@Mike B. There is no new spin. It was revealed last week that the donation cheques were banked in Queenstown. This is not new information. What is new is confirmation from the Dotcom man who lodged the funds into Banks' bank account. So far everything that Dotcom has said has mostly proven to be correct. What we are hoping for is for John Banks to make a miracle recovery and remember the helicopter ride to the Dotcom Mansion, just as he has remembered personally negotiating cheap hotel rates in Hong Kong.

4/05/2012 10:09:39 a.m.

Alison wrote:

I am glad the investigation is under way. There is no doubt in my mind that Mr Banks has been less than honest..he even tried to blame his legal counsel for his less than truthful answers. High time somone went through our politicians financial dealings like a dose of salt. We need to be able to have confidence in those we have elected to represent us.

4/05/2012 9:52:21 a.m.

John wrote:

Mr Key has lost all credibility!

4/05/2012 9:43:38 a.m.

michaelauknz wrote:

There is a flashpoint when any fuel will ignite. Justice is about to happen and this is now hot enough to do it. Key, Banks and Hyde are in this one up to the eye balls. the rat Pack is about to get its toe nails seriously clipped. the entire New Zealand public are disgusted and disgraced by Electoral manipulation that occurs in New Zealand. New Zealand is a politically corrupt country in the ignorance and innocence of the public over this event will change the image of politicians, bureaucrats and academics. This has created a martyr out of Kim.com and creates the birth of a new political party based on crowd voting similar to the Pirate party in Germany. Watch this space for an announcement... Auckland pioneered the Pirate Community and the radio licensing fiasco now it is about to do the same with the Internet process for political reform. People want transparency honesty and they don't want hear it they want to see it..

4/05/2012 9:37:40 a.m.

Mike B wrote:

And now we have a new spin on this story. Cheques paid into bank in Queenstown? Who is telling the truth now? Just maybe Mr Banks did not know who the donations where from? Mr Dot Com seeking revenge? The plot thickens.