Obeid Sent To Jail For Five Years –  Justice Beech-Jones “Corruption by elected officials consumes democracies”

Eddie Obeid,former NSW Labor minister has been being sentenced to five years’ jail with a minimum non-parole period of three years.

Mr Obeid’s conviction was due to his failure to disclose his family’s business interests in cafe leases at Sydney’s Circular Quay, while lobbying a senior bureaucrat about the rights of waterfront retailers in 2007 when he was a member of the NSW Upper House. Mr Obeid was found guilty in June of misconduct in public office.

Justice Robert Beech-Jones of the Supreme Court described Mr Obeid’s crime as “very serious”, Justice Beech-Jones compared Obeid’s use of his position to advance private interests to bribery.

“The more senior the public official, the greater the level of public trust,” he said.

“Corruption by elected officials consumes democracies.”

“If Mr Obeid had not wilfully abused his position as a parliamentarian, then his life and career would be a testament to the values of hard work, family and public service,” Justice Beech-Jones said.