đ Share this article Ex- Australian Public Figure Sentenced for More Than Half a Decade for Criminal Acts The convicted individual was sentenced for five years and nine months for criminal acts of two men An ex- lawmaker convicted of attacking two young men encountered via professional activities was given to nearly six years in detention. Case Details The defendant, forty-four, was in prison since last summer after a jury convicted him of raping an individual and attacking another individual, in multiple events in 2013 then 2015. The politician acted for the oceanfront municipality of the district in the New South Wales government from 2011. He stepped down as a Liberal Party cabinet member when accusations emerged in 2021 but refused to quit his seat and returned to office in 2023. Judgment Information Justice the judicial figure evaluated his visual impairment of legal blindness in the judgment and determined "no other penalty other than imprisonment is appropriate". The defendant, who appeared via digital means at the judicial venue, will undergo at least three years and nine months in custody before he can apply for early release. The court official stated the legal system needs to "send a stern message to similar individuals that criminal acts of this nature will be met with significant consequences". Additional Information She also said Ward had "evaded consequences for ten years and enjoyed a life without a rehabilitation program or penalty for his actions during those years". After his conviction, Ward launched a failed legal bid to remain in government and resigned just prior to the members could remove him. His legal team has previously said he intends to contest the guilty verdict. Incident Details His lengthy proceedings in the state court learned that he brought a intoxicated young adult to his property in 2013 and attacked him on multiple occasions, despite his attempts to fight back. Subsequently, he attacked a 24-year-old government employee at his property after an event at government offices. He had argued the later assault was fabricated, and that the other complainant was confused about their interaction from the first incident. The state's attorneys maintained that significant resemblances in the testimonies of the two men, who were unacquainted with each other, proved they were telling the truth. Court members considered for multiple days before delivering the guilty verdicts. Ward's resignation prompted a replacement vote in Kiama in September, which was won by the challenger.