Corrupt ex-minister Eddie Obeid warns state MPs not to discredit him during the election campaign

CORRUPT former Labor minister Eddie Obeid has tried to warn the NSW parliament from his jail cell not to speak ill of him during the election campaign, with his lawyers sending a legal letter to every state MP.

CORRUPT former Labor minister Eddie Obeid has tried to warn ̶the NSW parliament from his jail cell not to speak ill of him during the election campaign, with his lawyers sending a legal letter to every state MP.

Just days after the government started attacking new Labor leader Michael Daley over his involvement in the disgraced former Labor government, Obeid’s lawyers have sent a strongly worded letter to MPs.

The letter puts them “on notice” to “exercise due care and diligence” in relation to their client.

Macquarie Street Liberal MPs were stunned by the letter yesterday, instead saying they would double down on attacking Labor over its old Obeid links.

Former NSW Labor minister Eddie Obeid. Picture: AAP

Mr Daley has already had to defend his involvement in the former government, saying: “That was a bad government and I came out of that government untainted.”

Obeid is in jail convicted of misconduct in public office and will face a separate trial in May over “conspiracy to misconduct in a public office” for his alleged involvement in a coal deal.

In the letter received by MPs yesterday and obtained by The Daily Telegraph, Obeid’s lawyers say they fear the close timing of the election to the trial will compromise it and influence a jury pool. The state election will be held on March 23.

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NSW Labor leader Michael Daley maintains he was ‘untainted’ during Mr Obeid’s time with Labor. Picture: AAP

Solicitor Abbas Soukie has written the letter on behalf of Hanna Legal.

“It is our view that any representations which adversely bear upon Mr Edward Obeid’s character, previous conviction and/or previous findings made by the Independent Commission Against Corruption, are likely to compromise the integrity of his trial and moreover may have the effect of influencing a prospective jury pool,” the letter says, before outlining concerns about the proximity of the NSW election to the trial.

It goes on: “We implore you to exercise due care and diligence when commenting on the above matters (to the extent that you propose to do so), so as to ensure that the integrity of Mr Obeid’s trial is not compromised.”

Backbench MP Gareth Ward said: “Does Mr Obeid seriously think he is in any position to intimidate Members of Parliament like he once did as a Labor powerbroker?”