The closing arguments have commenced in the trial of former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire at the NSW District Court. Maguire faces allegations related to a fraudulent visa scheme that purportedly took place between 2013 and 2015.
Tomorrow, Mr. Maguire’s lawyer, Ian McLachlan, is set to present his closing remarks, after which the jury will deliberate on the case.
During the proceedings, it was indicated that there is substantial evidence suggesting that the 67-year-old former MP was aware that providing false information to immigration authorities was integral to the alleged visa fraud scheme.
Maguire is accused of being complicit in submitting false or misleading details on visa applications, which enabled non-citizens to stay in Australia. The jury has been informed that these activities occurred while he was serving as an MP from 2013 to 2015.
He has maintained his innocence regarding a charge of conspiracy linked to his role in the scheme, which allegedly involved him collaborating with businesses, mainly within his former electorate, to sponsor Chinese nationals seeking permanent residency.
After a ten-day witness testimony phase, Crown Prosecutor Sean Flood SC delivered his closing statement today. He directed the jury’s attention to a significant volume of text messages and emails presented in court, exchanged between Mr. Maguire and his alleged accomplice, Maggie Wang (also known as Maggie Logan), along with her associate migration agent, Monica Hao.
Mr. Flood emphasized that Mr. Maguire was aware of Ms. Wang’s involvement in migration matters and that he understood the associated paperwork, which was the responsibility of Ms. Hao. He noted, “There is a clear history of their collaboration over time.”
Throughout the trial, several witnesses testified about receiving cash payments for attending meetings related to the scheme. The court also heard that some of the potential employers had never met the visa applicants or worked for the businesses in question.
Mr. Flood pointed out that, given Mr. Maguire’s position as a rural parliamentarian, he should have known that visas could not be purchased. He stated, “Mr. Maguire has been informed that lying to the Department of Immigration is a fundamental aspect of the scheme.”
While acknowledging that Mr. Maguire did not submit any visa-related forms to the Commonwealth, Mr. Flood clarified that the Crown was not alleging that the cash payments themselves were illegal, but highlighted that such transactions are often harder to trace.
The court also revealed that Mr. Maguire and Ms. Wang were in frequent contact, with references to social lunches, visits to the NSW Parliament House, a stay at Mr. Maguire’s residence, and attendance at the Henty Field Days in southern NSW.
Mr. McLachlan provided a preview of his closing address, scheduled for Thursday, asserting, “Mr. Maguire directed potential employers to Maggie Wang, which is not inappropriate.” He added that after this introduction, the responsibility shifted to Maggie and others.
Additionally, Mr. McLachlan reiterated points from his opening statement regarding the intricacies of the visa system. He cited a text message from Mr. Maguire to Ms. Wang, indicating that she would handle immigration matters as part of the scheme, suggesting he was not involved in the preparation of any documents.
