Previous Down Under Politician Sentenced for More Than 60 Months for Criminal Acts
A former Australian politician convicted of assaulting two individuals encountered via his position received a sentence to 69 months in prison.
Legal Proceedings
The former official, mid-forties, has been in prison since July after the court determined his guilt of sexually assaulting one man and attacking a second person, in separate incidents in 2013 and 2015.
Ward acted for the coastal town of Kiama in the NSW legislature from the year 2011. He resigned as a political party official when accusations came to light in 2021 but refused to quit the legislature and returned to office in 2023.
Court Ruling
Judge the judicial figure took into account Ward's disability of sight disability in the judgment and concluded "no other penalty other than detention would be suitable".
The convicted individual, who participated via digital means at Parramatta District Court, will complete at no less than three years and nine months in detention before he can request conditional freedom.
Justice Shead declared the legal system needs to "deliver a strong warning to similar individuals that criminal acts such as this will be met with significant consequences".
Case Background
The judge added Ward had "avoided punishment for ten years and lived freely free from a programme or consequence for his crimes during those years".
Following the verdict, the individual attempted a rejected court challenge to stay in government and stepped down shortly before the legislature could oust him.
His legal team has stated earlier he plans to contest the ruling.
Incident Details
The defendant's extended court case in the state court was told that he invited a intoxicated 18-year-old man to his property in the first incident and indecently assaulted him repeatedly, despite his attempts to fight back.
Subsequently, he attacked a 24-year-old government employee at his property after a function at the legislature.
He had claimed the 2015 rape didn't happen, and that the other complainant was confused about their meeting from 2013.
The state's attorneys contended that notable parallels in the statements of the two men, who had no connection to the other, showed they were being honest.
Court members considered for 72 hours before announcing the guilty verdicts.
The political exit led to a replacement vote in Kiama in last fall, which was won by the challenger.
