A blank letterhead provided to Tim McCurdy when he was a real estate agent in 2009 will be a point of contention as he fights fraud charges.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The now Ovens Valley MP appeared in Shepparton Magistrates Court on Tuesday over allegations he forged documents to secure sales commissions worth about $375,000.
McCurdy was working for Andrew Gilmour in Cobram when the office manager provided him with a company letterhead, possibly in both paper and electronic form.
Crown prosecutor Susanna Locke objected to the office manager being cross-examined as a witness in a hearing, saying the woman could not provide any further insights.
“She provides the accused with some blank letterhead, which was subsequently used in the alleged offending,” she said.
McCurdy has been charged with four counts of making a false document, four counts of use a false document, attempt to obtain property by deception and obtain property by deception.
Barrister Paul Laurie said the court’s summary of witnesses stated the office manager believed McCurdy had Mr Gilmour’s blessing to use the letterhead.
“The crux of the case turns on authorisation, or as the prosecution would say non-authorisation, of the sale of two properties,” he said.
“There are real questions to be explained about the nature of the authorisation that Mr Gilmour gave.”
Mr Laurie also wanted to question the office manager about the professional relationship between McCurdy and Mr Gilmour.
Ms Locke said Mr Gilmour was capable of answering those questions himself, and said the office manager’s comments about the blank letterhead were still consistent with fraud allegations against McCurdy.
“It’s a matter of interpretation,” Ms Locke said.
“She said she thought she gave it to him with Andrew Gilmour’s blessing, because the accused told her he had the blessing.”
Magistrate David Faram ruled the office manager could give evidence as a witness and adjourned the case for a two-day committal hearing on October 3 and 4.
McCurdy will know after that hearing whether he will have to stand trial over the charges in the County Court and has pledged to continue to campaign for his seat during the Victorian state election to be held on November 24.
