New Zealand

New evidence offered in Banks case

13:34 pm on 8 August 2014

New evidence described by former ACT Party leader John Banks as "unimpeachable" in his election donations case has been revealed.

According to court documents filed by Banks' lawyer and released to Radio New Zealand, new witnesses have come forward.

John Banks after his sentencing in the High Court at Auckland. Photo: RNZ

The new witnesses are claiming to have been at a critical lunch at Kim Dotcom's mansion when Mr Dotcom offered the $50,000 campaign donation to Banks.

Justice Wylie found that Banks asked for it to be split into two $25,000 amounts so it would not stick out on his donations return. The donation was also recorded as anonymous.

Banks' lawyer David Jones QC, has said the appeal could be heard this year or in 2015 and in the meantime Bank's sentence of 100 hours of community work and an overnight curfew is suspended.