Former Immigration Service boss Mary Anne Thompson believed she had a doctorate from the prestigious London School of Economics when she was applying for top-level government posts.

Thompson is defending two charges of using a document with intent to defraud and one charge of dishonestly attempting to use a document without claims of right.

She last year resigned from the senior position in the Labour Department after being accused of a conflict of interest for helping family members gain residency in New Zealand.

It was also alleged that she did not have a doctorate from the London School of Economics that many people many believed she had.



The charges relate to separate incidents in 1989, 1998 and 2004 when Thompson applied for different public service jobs

In a deposition hearing in Wellington District Court today crown solicitor Grant Burston said while Thompson did work toward a Master of Philosophy with the top-ranked university, she was never awarded a PhD.

During a police interview, Thompson acknowledged she did not hold a doctorate but had believed that she did.

Thompson applied and got jobs at the Maori Affairs Ministry, Treasury, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the Labour Department, and wrote a book using the title 'doctor'.

Three witnesses from the London School of Economics are to give evidence by video link with the UK, beginning tomorrow.

Proceedings have been adjourned till tomorrow morning.

- Dominion Post with NZPA