KEY POINTS:
A Thai immigrant says he voluntarily travelled the length of the North Island and worked after-hours and Sundays without pay to finish painting jobs for an MP accused of bribery and corruption.
Phongphat Chaikhunpol - also known as Ded - says he did painting work on
about five properties owned by Mangere MP Taito Phillip Field after approaching him for immigration assistance in 2003.
In a Manukau District Court depositions hearing yesterday, Mr Chaikhunpol said he had been turned down for a visitor's permit in September 2002, and had been given legal advice to leave New Zealand.
But on the advice of a Thai-speaking Iraqi named Ali, he decided in 2003 to marry his partner, who had just been granted residency.
Mr Chaikhunpol sought Field's advice on the recommendation of fellow illegal immigrant Phisimai Phothisarn.
A letter from the MP's office recommending he be allowed to remain in the country was issued about two weeks after his wedding day.
Field faces 40 bribery, corruption and obstruction of justice charges after he allegedly allowed several Thais, whom he was helping with immigration issues, to work on his properties for little or no payment.
The offending is alleged to have taken place between November 2002 and October 2005, and the hearing will decide whether Field is to stand trial.
Mr Chaikhunpol - speaking through an interpreter - told the court he had spoken to Field about his immigration problems.
A few weeks later, he got a call to go to a Field-owned property to do some painting, and he said he worked at four Auckland properties. He also worked at a Wellington property.
For one of the Auckland painting jobs he had worked on Sundays free for about two months.
Though Field had offered to pay for work done, Mr Chaikhunpol had always refused to accept payment, the court heard.
Under cross-examination by Field's lawyer, Paul Davison, QC, Mr Chaikhunpol admitted that his evidence was at odds with an earlier statement to police, in which he said he had met Field while working at one of his Mangere properties.
Asked why he had signed an incorrect statement, he said: "I don't know. It was read back in Thai, and I think I was confused, so I signed."
The hearing continues next week.
