Former Australian Workers Union official and accused bagman Ralph Blewitt has protested his innocence and claims he is being made the fall guy after facing a Perth court over the alleged embezzlement of more than $400,000.
The 71 year old has been charged with more than 30 fraud offences dating back to the early 1990s over a union slush fund set up by then-union boss Bruce Wilson when he was in a relationship with former prime minister Julia Gillard.
The alleged fraud involved siphoning union funds extorted from major construction companies for personal benefit, including the purchase of a house in Fitzroy in inner-city Melbourne in 1992.
Mr Blewitt argues he never benefited and did nothing wrong intentionally.
He says he was used, was not the mastermind, and that the building companies voluntarily bought union cooperation for major projects by paying the "secret commissions".
The builders say they thought it was to pay for members' training.
"Why am I the only one being charged with fraud? I was used as a stooge, I was the fall guy," Mr Blewitt told reporters outside Perth Magistrates Court today.
"There was no fraud and there is ample evidence to support the case that there was a total agreement (with the builders).
"It's a two-way street, there's givers and takers in bribery and corruption. Why is the person receiving only being charged and not the person giving?"
He said he had no knowledge of police investigating anyone else.
The royal commissioner into union corruption, Dyson Heydon, cleared Ms Gillard of criminality in 2014 but did recommend charges be considered against Mr Blewitt and Mr Wilson. The latter, who denies any wrongdoing, has not been charged.
Ms Gillard angrily attacked Mr Blewitt's credibility in 2012 when he said she had questions to answer about the slush fund, which was called the AWU's Workplace Reform Association.
Mr Blewitt said he had voluntarily flown to Australia from his home in Malaysia multiple times at his own expense to speak to police and deal with the issue.
He had expected to plead not guilty on Thursday but the case was adjourned to September 29 and he remains on bail to return to Malaysia.
