Thank you SFO. This from this morning's NZ Herald
Winston Peters has owned up to a cash donation - but only after his hand was forced by the Serious Fraud Office.
A $40,000 gift from the Spencer Trust was Mr Peters' one amendment to the Register of MPs' Pecuniary Interests when it was released yesterday.
This was the donation the SFO uncovered and handed over to Parliament's privileges committee last month.
It covered the $40,000 court costs Mr Peters was ordered to pay after his unsuccessful election petition against National's Bob Clarkson in 2005.
The SFO's evidence contradicted the explanation Mr Peters and his lawyer Brian Henry gave to the committee about how the $40,000 debt was paid.
Mr Henry at first told the committee he paid the costs. Mr Peters told it he believed he paid.
Mr Henry then clarified in writing that he paid but Mr Peters reimbursed him shortly afterwards and Mr Peters backed up this version in a speech to Upper Hutt Grey Power.
But Mr Peters' amendment yesterday read: "Cash donation towards Tauranga electoral petition costs - Spencer Trust."
