2008-03-05 Smith J

Transcript of proceedings in afternoon of 5 March 2008 in Practice Court of the Supreme Court of Victoria before Smith J following which prisoner was released unconditionally without being called upon to answer any charge of contempt, respond to any oral examination or pay any sum of money. Subsequently Ross McClure, "Senior Executive Lawyer" of the AGS on behalf of the AEC has served a sealed order from that judge on that date, in proceedings No 4287 of 1996 "Between AUSTRALIAN ELECTORAL COMMISSION and LANGER ALBERT". "THE COURT ORDERS THAT: 1. The Defendant Arthur Dent, formerly known as Albert Langer, be given 30 days in which to purge his contempt. 2. Mr Dent be released." A notice indorsed on the order says "You are liable to imprisonment or sequestration of property..." but there is no order requiring the performance of or abstention from any particular act . The cover letter dated 2008-03-28 is addressed to "Mr Arthur Dent (formerly known as Albert Langer)" at the address for service in the FCA proceedings and is from the AGS lawyer currently in charge of those proceedings for both respondents. It concludes "Please note that the enclosed orders have been indorsed pursuant to O 66 r 10(3) of the Supreme Court (General Civil Procedure) Rules 2005 (Vic)"