Taito Phillip Field

Taito Phillip Field

MP Taito Phillip Field has been charged with 15 counts of bribery and 25 counts of attempting to pervert justice.

A High Court ruling in October cleared the way for police to prosecute him for bribery and corruption.

Field has denied any wrongdoing, and his lawyer Simativa Perese says his client remains optimistic about his chances.

"Now the matters are in court, it's inappropriate to go into the basis for that. But that is a matter of public record - that he's maintained his innocence and asserted his innocence," Mr Perese said.

Mr Perese said the charges were filed a couple of days ago.

"It was served on us on Wednesday so it's certainly not a surprise."

He is due to appear in the Manukau District Court at 10am on Monday where a date for a depositions hearing will be set.

"He won't be arrested and required to plead. He will agree to a bail condition that he not associate with any witnesses.

It's really a way for Mr Field to progress this matter so that if he has to go to a trial it's all resolved hopefully before the next election," Mr Perese said.

Mr Field would continue with the Court of Appeal issue "as to whether or not the granting of leave in the first place was correct," he said.

The charges centre on allegations Mr Field gave immigration assistance in return for free or low-cost labour on properties he owned in Samoa, South Auckland and Wellington. Click here for a timeline of the case

When granting the leave, Chief High Court Judge Tony Randerson said there was a strong public interest in allowing a prosecution so the charges could be tested in court.

"There can be no question that the allegations made against [Mr Field] are extremely serious in that they strike at the heart of the administration of a Government and the integrity of members of Parliament," he said in October.

Because the corruption and bribery charges related to a member of Parliament, leave from the High Court was needed to prosecute to ensure charges were not politically motivated or influenced, and to weigh up the public interest in the charges being laid. The offence carries a prison term of up to seven years.