John Banks Anti-gay equality politician and broadcaster John Banks has this morning been convicted of knowingly filing a false electoral return and will have to undertake community detention and community work as punishment. Banks was found guilty on June 5th of knowingly filing a false electoral return relating to his unsuccessful 2010 bid for the Auckland mayoralty. The charge related to donations from internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom. A similar charge relating to a donation by Sky City was not proved. Justice Edwin Wylie decided against a possible prison term and instead sentenced Banks to two months of community detention which includes a 7pm - 7am curfew on Thursday through Sunday nights, plus one hundred hours of community work. For decades Banks spoke out vehemently, and voted in Parliament, against equal rights in law for glbti people. He also facilitated and joined in with countless examples of anti-homosexual rhetoric during his periods as a radio talkback host. Although he voted for marriage equality he had by that time been appointed leader of the ACT party and it is widely understood his vote was based on the party's instructions. His guilty verdict and conviction mean he is now barred from standing for high public office such as entering Parliament. Banks says he will appeal this morning's conviction based on evidence he says has come to light since the guilty verdict was handed down.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 1st August 2014 - 11:21am