Former WA Liberal politician Phil Edman will be defending charges of hindering a corruption investigation into his misuse of parliamentary expenses, including allegedly spending taxpayers' money on travel for sex and strippers.
Mr Edman, a Liberal member of the Legislative Council between 2008 and 2017, is also accused of tipping off three others about the 2019 investigation by the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC).
It led to the CCC tabling a report in parliament that found Mr Edman had engaged in serious misconduct by using his $78,000-a-year electoral allowance to pay for Christmas functions, online purchases, clothing and the berthing fees for his yacht, called "The Prime Minister".
The report also found that Mr Edman had used public money to pay for interstate travel to meet women for sex and for strippers.
The report's findings led to a prolonged argument over the fate of Mr Edman's laptop, which was initially seized by the CCC and talked about in his secretly recorded phone conversations.
They included one in which he told a businessman there was enough material on the computer that could "bury a f***en' lot of people and ruin their political careers forever".
The CCC was forced to hand back the laptop over concerns it contained material that was covered by parliamentary privilege.
The matter ended up in the Supreme Court, which ruled only the parliament could decide if the material on it could be handed over.
Last year, the Upper House agreed to provide more than half-a-million documents from it to the CCC.
'Firm' not guilty pleas entered: lawyer
Today in the Perth Magistrates Court, Mr Edman entered not guilty pleas to the four charges against him — one of wilfully delaying, obstructing, or hindering the CCC and three of disclosing restricted matter.
Those he is alleged to have tipped off about the investigation include another former Upper House MP, Nigel Hallett.
Mr Edman's lawyer, Finola Barr, requested the case be set down for a one-day trial, but because the witness list was not yet finalised, the matter was adjourned to another date later this month.
Mr Edman was excused from attending court on that date.
Outside court, Ms Barr confirmed only that her client "had entered firm not guilty pleas and he would be defending all the charges".
Mr Edman himself made no comment.
