Labor MP urged to abandon overseas trip until rort probe clears his office of wrongdoing

AN embattled Labor MP is being urged to delay his overseas travel until a parliamentary probe clears him of the alleged “cash for stacks” rort scheme.

Victorian MP Khalil Eideh arrives back in Melbourne after he was refused entry to the United States in July. Picture: AAP/Wayne Taylor

AN embattled Labor MP is being urged to delay his overseas travel until a parliamentary probe clears him of the alleged “cash for stacks” rort scheme.

The office of Upper House member Khalil Eideh is under investigation over alleged links to a printing scheme which is claimed to have funnelled taxpayer funds to pay for ALP memberships.

Mr Eideh denies knowledge of the scam and has opened his office to be interrogated by the Victorian parliament.

CASH STACK CLAIMS PROBED

SECOND PRINTER IN RORT CLAIMS PROBE

PRINTING FIRM BRINGS LATE LABOR MP INTO SCANDAL

Victorian MP Khalil Eideh arrives back in Melbourne after he was refused entry to the United States in July. Picture: AAP/Wayne Taylor

However, Legislative Council members have called on him to postpone a September tour to the United Arab Emirates and Oman, saying he should not represent Victoria while facing “serious issues”.

“His office is currently facing an audit by the parliament of Victoria into alleged misuse of electorate funds, ” said Opposition spokesman Simon Ramsay.

“Given he is under investigation by the parliament, and has already made numerous trips to the Middle East, he should be here to explain his role in the alleged rorting.’’

Five other MPs are part of the taxpayer-funded trip looking into anti-terror practices, sharia law and trade.

Bizarrely Mr Eideh is understood to be personally funding his portion of the trip, raising concern he intends to carry out personal business while abroad.

Mr Eideh, who could not be contacted by the Herald Sun, has come under increasing scrutiny in recent months after he was blocked from entering the US on another parliamentary tour in August.

Mr Eideh told media he was shocked and embarrassed by his treatment.

Weeks later he admitted he had mislead the public about several personal trips to Syria to see family, leading up to the US tour.

Parliamentary representatives will this week begin to question Mr Eideh’s office staff, including manager Robert Mammarella, after scrutinising invoices from F & M Printing.

VICTORIAN MP KHALIL EIDEH BLOCKED FROM ENTERING US

Victorian MP Khalil Eideh has come under increasing scrutiny in recent months. Picture: AAP/Wayne Taylor

Robert Mammarella outside Khalil Eideh’s electoral office in Cairnlea. Picture: Tony Gough

Last weekend Mr Eideh also refused to confirm if he would recontest his Northern Metro seat at the 2018 election.

If the veteran Labor MP, who was elected in 2006, stands aside it will ignite a brutal preselection battle for the safe upper house seat.

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