Former Whitehorse mayor of the City of Whitehorse in Melbourne’s east George Droutsas (photo) is fighting for his political life this week in what many see as a bizarre trial into whether he deceived candidates in a local council election into running against their will.
The Office of Public Prosecutions claims that in so doing Droutsas made or used false documents because they say the candidates didn’t know what they were signing. The candidates all acknowledge signing the nomination forms. Yesterday and today, the prosecutor Anne Hassan described the case as “extremely unusual.” Indeed it is.
A successful prosecution in this case would leave anyone involved in encouraging a candidate to run or indeed anyone involved in the organisation of nomination forms for elections vulnerable to the very serious charge of “make and use a false document”. It has very serious implications for many people involved in the political process.
The whole case seems likely to turn on what these candidates knew – or what they were told – and when.
The trial before Judge Mark Taft continues.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
