Ex-Liberal staffer who lied to ICAC spared jail time

A former Liberal Party advisor who lied to NSW's corruption watchdog about illegal political donations has been spared jail time, but will serve an 18-month sentence in the community.

Tim Koelma, a former advisor to disgraced NSW energy minister Chris Hartcher, gave evidence to an Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry in 2014 about a Liberal slush fund set up ahead of the 2011 state election. 

Koelma was later charged with three counts of giving false or misleading evidence to ICAC and pleaded guilty in December.

While Judge Kara Shead said she would take the offender's good character into consideration, she noted Koelma's offence "undermines the foundations of the justice system" and had to be treated appropriately.

"Going to court, taking an oath or affirmation and deliberately choosing to lie strikes at the very heart of the justice system," she told the NSW District Court on Tuesday.

"No penalty other than imprisonment must be imposed." 

Judge Shead sentenced Koelma to an aggregated one-and-a-half year prison term to be served by way of an intensive correction order. 

This means the 39-year-old may not serve jail time if he abides by the conditions of the order which includes not committing any offences and serving 150 hours of community service.

Judge Shead noted Koelma's pro bono work with Ukrainian refugees following the outbreak of war and devotion to others in the community showed he had good prospects for rehabilitation and was at low risk of reoffending. 

"There have been nine to 10 years since the ICAC hearing took place and the offender in that time has been left in an uncertain state of suspense," she said.

"I would apply fundamentally that he is a different person and has not committed any other offence since then." 

Between 2012 and 2014, ICAC was investigating allegations that Liberal candidates and their associates solicited political donations from prohibited donors such as property developers.

The inquiry found the Liberals and staffers hid donors' identities by disguising their money as charitable donations to the Free Enterprise Foundation and channelling tens of thousands of dollars through Koelma's business Eightbyfive.

Koelma was 26 when he was assisting the Liberal Party election campaign and 29 when he was first called to give evidence to ICAC.

The court heard Koelma's reputation had been destroyed as a result of the ICAC hearings and he had suffered immense stress.

Koelma said he had felt poorly prepared to provide evidence to the inquiry and had limited access to legal advice.

When giving evidence, he felt detached and numb, unable to remember what he said and was in a "dream-like state" when giving evidence.

Judge Shead noted the stress he felt was likely multifaceted.

"Realising that you're a liar and choosing to lie over and over again is a stressful experience."

Koelma's sentence will expire in December 2024.