MP for Epsom John Banks goes to court on Monday to fight the charge that forced him to stand down as leader of the ACT Party.
Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski
He will be tried by a judge at the High Court in Auckland on a charge of knowingly filing an electoral return that contained false information during his failed 2010 Auckland mayoralty campaign.
The Crown says Banks received a $50,000 donation from businessman Kim Dotcom and $15,000 from SkyCity, but recorded the donations as anonymous.
His lawyers say the electoral return was prepared by a member of his staff and he never read it.