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Tuesday, 07 October 2008

MPs pass hat around to help family of Milton Orkopoulos

21/05/2008 6:19:00 AM.  | Kelly Fedor & AAP

Former Labor MP Milton Orkopoulos will be sentenced today after his conviction of child sex and drug charges.

His sentencing coincides with an appeal for financial help for his family.

Milton Orkopoulos leaves behind wife Kathy and daughter Anastasia when he's sentenced to jail on 30 child sex and drug charges today.

Federal Member for the Hunter Jill Hall says the family have lost their home because of the case against the former Labor minister, and are struggling to pay the bills.

She and state MP Robert Coombs have written a letter urging government MP'S to donate 100 dollars each to a fund for the family.

The letter, dated May 7, has been circulated to the parliamentary offices of MPs as well as to Labor branch members and friends.

It claims Orkopoulos's estranged wife has been left in financial hardship after the costly case, has been forced out of the family home and into a unit and struggles to pay her daughter's school fees.

Mr Coombs, who took Orkopoulos's seat after the 2007 election, said Orkopoulos's wife and daughter were unfortunate victims of his double life.

"They have had to sell their home," he told News Ltd.

"In the true Labor way we have rallied around to rattle the tin."

The club will also a fundraiser raffle night with a flat screen tv and a four-night stay at a Swansea hotel as prizes.

But victims groups are outraged - Ken Marslew from Enough is Enough says the focus should be on securing compensation for the real victims.

“This is offensive to the victims of Orkopoulos’s crimes, that they’re going to have to deal with what this person has done to them and this is a lifelong sentence.”

Orkopoulos is facing 15 years in jail.

COMMENTS

Wednesday, 21 May 2008

I don't think this issue is over for the ALP. I know some things which suggests there is much more that might follow.

Posted by: Ir Ras Kah Ball, Carramar/Sydney

 

Thursday, 22 May 2008

I feel sorry for this man's (if you can actually call him a man) family. How are his children going to show their faces at school. However, the idea of an raising money basically on his behalf is abhorent. Is anyone raising money for his victims so they can get on with their lives? Is anyone helping his victims pay for the medical bills I am sure they have? Yes his family are victims too. He could have prevented their financial ruin and the shame they face by pleading guilty!

Posted by: Ruth Douglas, Kellyville

 
 

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