Melbourne: An Australian lawmaker has been charged with shop lifting and alleged assault on super market security personnel, but she has vowed to fight the rap. South Australian Liberal Senator Mary Jo Fisher was charged with attempting to shop lift groceries valued at USD 92.92 from a store on December 15.
It is alleged that after police were contacted, Fisher fled the store and assaulted a store security officer as she attempted to leave in her car with the stolen groceries, Adelaide Now reported.
If she is found guilty, the Senator could ejected from her seat under the Constitution. The paper said source close to her had revealed revealed the lawmaker had been struggling for the last “two or three years” and had experienced some form of panic attack while in the store, after she realised that she had inadequate money for the goods.
The lawmaker issued a statement last night stating: “In connection with an incident on December 15, 2010, the SA police charged me on two matters.”
“I reject the charges and will vigorously defend them,” she said. (PTI)