- Milton Orkopoulos
-
Milton Orkopoulos Born 22 July 1957 Conviction(s) Child Sex Offences
Drug OffencesPenalty 13 years 9 months (eligible for parole after 9 year 3 months) Status Incarcerated Occupation Former Politician Milton Orkopoulos (born 22 July 1957) is a former Australian Labor Party politician, and convicted criminal. A member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1999, Orkopoulos was appointed Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Minister Assisting the Premier on Citizenship in August 2005.
In November 2006, New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma sacked him as after he was charged with child sex and other offences. The following week, he resigned as MP for the state electorate of Swansea. On 14 March 2008 Orkopoulos was convicted on charges relating to child sex offences and the supply of drugs. In May 2008 he was sentenced to 13 years jail.
Contents
History
Early life
Orkopoulos briefly trained as a nurse before studying economics at the University of Newcastle. He went on to work for BHP and as an electorate officer for MPs Peter Morris, Don Bowman and Jill Hall. He married and had three children.[1]
Political career
From 1995 until 1999, Orkopoulos represented Labor on Lake Macquarie City Council. In March 1999, he was elected to represent Swansea in the Legislative Assembly for Labor, and joined the Socialist Left faction. In August 2005 he was promoted to the front bench, serving in the generally low-profile portfolios of Aboriginal Affairs and Citizenship.[1]
Former NSW Premier, Nathan Rees, served as his Chief of Staff before joining the staff of then-Premier in 2006.
Arrest and conviction
On 5 November 2006, Police Minister John Watkins was informed by police commissioner Ken Moroney that Orkopoulos was about to be charged with child sex offences. Moroney later explained that the Orkopolous case "is an issue that would be discussed in the normal course of events between us."[2] The call, which resulted in the Premier's office knowing that the arrest of a senior colleague was imminent, raised questions as to the political independence of the New South Wales Police. Legal commentator Richard Ackland wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald that "I can't think of a solid reason why third parties should be told by the police that they are about to nab someone important."[3]
On 7 November 2006 Orkopoulos was arrested and charged with 30 offences including involvement in child prostitution, sexual assault and supplying illegal drugs.[4][5]
He was immediately sacked by Premier Morris Iemma as both a minister and member of the parliamentary Labor Party. Orkopoulos denied the charges but indicated that he would not contest his Swansea electorate at the 2007 state election. He resigned from Parliament on 13 November 2006[6][7] and reportedly attempted suicide the next day.[8]
The Government also passed legislation to suspend or remove Parliamentary pension entitlements for any Member who resigns when charged with serious crimes prior to the resolution of charges.[9] The provisions of the legislation permitted its retrospective application to Orkopoulos.[10]
Further charges were laid against Orkopoulos on 16 April 2007.[11] On 14 March 2008 he was found guilty of 28 offences relating to sexual assault of a minor, indecent assault and supplying heroin and cannabis.[12] On 21 May 2008 Orkopoulos was sentenced to 13 years and 11 months in jail, with a non-parole period of 9 years and 3 months.[13] In March 2009, he lodged a challenge against his conviction in the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal.[14]
Appeal
On 25 August 2009 the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal rejected Orkopoulos' appeal against his conviction but reduced his maximum sentence to 13 years and eight months (instead of the 13 years and 11 months sentence by the trial court) with a non-parole period of nine years. [15]
References
- ^ a b "Mr Milton Orkopoulos (1957 - )". Members of Parliament. Parliament of New South Wales. http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/members.nsf/1fb6ebed995667c2ca256ea100825164/74419af6e39ffe3a4a256760000caa05. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
- ^ Clennell, Andrew (10 November 2006). "Briefing was appropriate: Moroney". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/briefing-was-appropriate-moroney/2006/11/09/1162661830477.html. Retrieved 14 November 2006.
- ^ Ackland, Richard (10 November 2006). "Premier cast as both goose and gander". Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/premier-cast-as-both-goose-and-gander/2006/11/09/1162661828450.html. Retrieved 14 November 2006.
- ^ "MP 'bought teen sex using public funds'". The Australian. 8 November 2006. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20721655-601,00.html. Retrieved 14 November 2006.
- ^ "Teen sex on the taxpayers". Sydney Morning Herald. 8 November 2006. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/teen-sex-on-the-taxpayers/2006/11/08/1162661724577.html. Retrieved 14 November 2006.
- ^ Frew, Wendy (11 November 2006). "Orkopoulos quits parliament". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/orkopoulos-quits-parliament/2006/11/13/1163266440703.html. Retrieved 14 November 2006.
- ^ "Milton Orkopoulos resigns". News.com.au; AAP. 11 November 2006. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20747603-2,00.html. Retrieved 14 November 2006.
- ^ "Family holds vigil at Orkopoulos's bedside". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 14 November 2006. http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200611/s1788640.htm. Retrieved 14 November 2006.
- ^ "Sex-case politician may lose his pension". Sydney Morning Herald. 14 November 2006. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/sexcase-politician-may-lose-his-pension/2006/11/13/1163266483978.html. Retrieved 14 November 2006.
- ^ "Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Amendment (Criminal Charges and Convictions) Act 2006, No 93" (PDF). Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, Parliament of New South Wales. November 2006. http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/sessionalview/sessional/TITLE/Parliamentary%20Contributory%20Superannuation%20Amendment%20(Criminal%20Charges%20and%20Convictions)%20Act%202006%20No%2093.pdf. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
- ^ "MP faces more child sex charges". The Age. 16 April 2007. http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/mp-faces-more-child-sex-charges/2007/04/16/1176696730927.html. Retrieved 11 September 2007.
- ^ "Orkopoulos found guilty". Sydney Morning Herald. 14 March 2008.
- ^ Keene, Neil (21 May 2008). "Milton Orkopoulos sentenced". Daily Telegraph, The.
- ^ "Former NSW MP Milton Orkopolous is appealing child sex and drug offences". The Australian. 4 March 2009. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25137958-5006784,00.html. Retrieved 5 March 2009.[dead link]
- ^ http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/judges-reject-orkopoulos-appeal/1605712.aspx | Newcastle Herald 26 August 2009
Parliament of New South Wales Preceded by
Jill HallMember for Swansea
1998 – 2007Succeeded by
Robert CoombsCrime in Australia States Cities Towns Crime dynamics Illicit drug use in Australia · Indigenous Australians and crimeLaw enforcement Prisons by state Crime internationally Crime by countryCategories:- 1957 births
- Living people
- Australian people convicted of child sexual abuse
- Australian criminals
- Australian Labor Party politicians
- Australian people of Greek descent
- Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
- People from New South Wales
- Australian politicians convicted of crimes
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