(ABC TV News - file image: Jason Rawlins)
Brisbane businessman Harold Shand has been found guilty of corruption.
A District Court jury in Brisbane delivered its verdict about 2:00pm (AEST).
The 59-year-old mining executive and former WorkCover Queensland board member had pleaded not guilty to corruptly paying a $60,000 secret commission to former Queensland government minister Gordon Nuttall in 2002.
During the trial, the Crown alleged the payment was made in the hope that Nuttall, then industrial relations minister in the Beattie Labor government, would use his influence in government to help advance the business dealings of the company Capregin.
During sentencing submissions this afternoon, prosecutor Ross Martin accepted Nuttall was the prime mover behind the payment.
He also said Shand had a significant involvement in facilitating the payment.
But Shand's lawyer Tony Glynn said Nuttall was not corrupted by the payment because he was already corrupt.
He said Shand did not gain any personal benefit.
Mr Glynn has argued for his client to spend no actual time in custody, but the Crown is seeking a head sentence of between nine months and five years in jail.
Judge Milton Griffin said he was of the view that Shand, who turns 60 on Monday, should spend time behind bars.
He adjourned the hearing until Friday when he is expected to sentence Shand.
This was the second time Shand has gone to trial over the matter, after the jury failed to reach a verdict in March last year.
Nuttall is serving 12 years for receiving secret commissions and perjury.
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