'I'll kick your head in, I don't care how old you are': Shamed Labor minister Ian Macdonald, 70, reveals a neo-Nazi thug threatened to bash him in prison
- Former NSW Labor minister Ian Macdonald was jailed for misconduct in 2017
- He was found guilty of corruptly handing a mining licence to a political ally
- He appealed conviction and was released on bail two weeks ago before retrail
- Now the former Labor MP has told how he was threatened during time in jail
Former Labor MP Ian Macdonald (pictured heading into custody in June 2017) has revealed how he was threatened in jail
Former Labor MP Ian Macdonald has revealed how he was threatened in jail by neo-Nazis who said they would kick his head in.
The 70-year-old was jailed in June 2017 for misconduct in public office after he handed an exploration licence to a mining company chaired by a political ally without seeing if any other companies wanted to bid for it.
He was released on bail two weeks ago after judges overturned his conviction and ordered a retrial.
Macdonald said he was threatened several times during his stint at Long Bay Correctional Complex - and believes his role as a prominent New South Wales minister played a part.
Talking about one of the men who threatened him, he told the Daily Telegraph: 'He was a young guy with a Nazi swastika tattooed on his chest, which he was constantly parading around the yard.
'He on a number of occasions abused me, [saying] "you deserve a good kicking".'
Macdonald said another man who was jailed for a serious assault also threatened him, saying 'I'll kick your head in, I don't care how old you are and when you hit the ground, I'll give you another kicking'.
The former minister said he is confident he will be found innocent at his retrial and will not have to spend any more time behind bars.
Macdonald had been in custody since June 2017 when he was jailed for 10 years, with a minimum of seven, after being found guilty of two counts of willful misconduct in public office while Minister for Mineral and Forest Resources in 2008.
Maconald said he was threatened several times during his stint at Long Bay Correctional Complex (pictured) - and believes his role as a New South Wales minister played a part
He appealed, saying he never had any 'improper' intentions and gained nothing by handing out the mining licence to his political ally, former union boss John Maitland.
Last month five Court of Criminal Appeal judges quashed his conviction and ordered a new trial.
They did the same for Mailtland, who was jailed for six years with four years non-parole on two charges of being an accessory to the alleged misconduct.
Macdonald was alleged to have favoured the interest of Doyles Creek Mining, chaired by Maitland, over the interests of the state when he granted a Hunter Valley coal exploration licence in 2008 without a competitive tender.
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Maitland ultimately made millions when Doyles Creek Mining was sold to listed company Nucoal Resources.
Mr Macdonald's barrister, Phillip Boulton, SC, argued that it was never adequately proven to the jury that his intentions by closing the deal were 'improper', The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Mr Boulton argued that Justice Christine Adamson had provided 'misleading' and 'confusing' directions to the jury.
He also argued his sentence was 'excessive' and that evidence against him was 'compulsorily obtained'.
'The learned trial judge misdirected the jury in relation to the elements of common law offence of misconduct in public office in relation to both charges,' court documents read.
'The jury's verdicts were unreasonable and cannot be supported having regard to the evidence.'
'A miscarriage of justice was occasioned on account of evidence now available to the appellant.'
After the conviction was quashed last month, Macdonald's lawyer, Phillip Boulton SC, applied for bail in the NSW Supreme Court and it was granted, prompting Macdonald's wife to cry and embrace a supporter.
Outside court Anita Gylseth said she was 'overwhelmed' and looked forward to seeing her husband.
While on bail, he must to reside in the Blue Mountains, report to police once a week, not approach any points of international departure or contact prosecution witnesses except through his lawyer.
Maitland, 72, who was also granted bail, will reside in Sydney's eastern suburbs with similar conditions.
Former union boss John Maitland (pictured), who was jailed for six years with four years non-parole on two charges of being an accessory to the alleged misconduct, also successfully appealed his conviction
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