A Liberal National Party candidate in the last federal election has faced court accused of providing false information about his residential address to the electoral commission.
Vivian Rakesh Lobo was issued a summons to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday after a federal police investigation following a referral from the Australian Electoral Commission.
The 41-year-old is accused of providing false details regarding his residential address on forms submitted to the commission.
A submission from Lobo’s lawyer was likely to be received by the prosecution next week, the court was told.
Lobo has bail on his own undertaking and is due to have his case mentioned in the same court on March 15.
He is facing four counts of knowingly providing false or misleading information to the commission, an offence carrying 12 months' prison as the maximum penalty.
Lobo contested the north Brisbane seat of Lilley in the 2020 federal election.
A review of his enrolment and candidate nomination forms prompted a referral to federal police, the Australian Electoral Commission said before the May 2022 election.
"There is concern as to whether the information provided by him regarding his residential address on these forms is false," the commission added in a statement.
At the time Lobo said he enrolled in the Lilley electorate as he had signed a lease in Everton Park with the intention to move in straight away.
"However, due to my campaign commitments and difficulty with getting tradespeople to the home, I was delayed moving in," he told media.
