A Thai tiler employed by Taito Phillip Field told a jury today he lived illegally in New Zealand for five years after arriving on a three month permit.
Sunan Siriwan was giving evidence at the High Court trial of the former Labour MP on bribery and corruption charges in Auckland.
Field is accused of employing several Thai nationals to work on his properties in return for help on immigration issues.
He also faces 25 charges of attempting to obstruct or pervert the course of justice during an inquiry into the corruption allegations held by Noel Ingram QC and to a subsequent police inquiry.
Mr Siriwan told the court said he first came to New Zealand on January 17, 1997 from Thailand.
He obtained a three month visitor permit, but did not leave when it expired. He lived in Glen Eden and started work as a tiler.
Crown prosecutor David Johnstone asked him if he stayed on illegally after his work permit expired. Mr Siriwan replied, "Yes".
He said he did not go home because he had big debts back in Thailand.
Mr Siriwan told the court he worked for a Laotian employer from 1997 until 2002, but did not sort out his immigration situation.
"I tried but I think I was deceived," Mr Siriwan said.
"Laotian people tried to get me a permit, but the person who took $1200 from me did not get my permit," he added.
Mr Johnstone asked Mr Siriwan if he had sought refugee status in New Zealand.
"I never had that kind of idea, but a friend of mine called Som did," he said.
Mr Siriwan will continue his evidence on Friday. The court will will not sit tomorrow.
Field was expelled from the Labour Party in 2007, continuing to represent his Mangere as an independent MP.
He lost the seat to Labour at last year's election.
