AAP
Embattled MP Craig Thomson declined an offer to surrender himself to Victoria police, which led to his arrest in NSW relating to 150 fraud offences, police say.
But Thomson's lawyer disputes this, saying his client was only invited to travel to Victoria for an interview.
The federal independent MP was arrested at his electorate office in Tuggerah, on the NSW Central Coast, on Thursday under a warrant from the Victorian police.
The NSW fraud squad assisted Victorian police in his arrest.
Head of the fraud squad, Detective Superintendent Colin Dyson, has seen the Victorian warrant.
"I believe from reading the warrant that he was invited to travel to Victoria to surrender himself prior to Christmas," Det Supt Dyson told reporters outside Wyong Police Station.
"He didn't do that, or refused, and the end result was the issue of that warrant."
Thomson's lawyer Chris McArdle said the police version of events was "completely untrue".
The request for his client to travel to Victoria was to attend an interview, not surrender to police, he said.
"If we had been given that invitation we would have done so and we wouldn't have needed this reality TV show that's going on," he said.
Mr McArdle said he and his client would travel to Melbourne on Wednesday and follow the court's instruction after that.
"This is something out of the Roman colosseum; this man's been thrown to the lions," he said.
"Five policemen arrested a man for minor misappropriation charges, which we deny. You don't need five policemen to do that. You only need five policemen if there's a risk of violence."
Thomson is still being investigated by NSW police in relation to Strike Force Carnarvon, looking into alleged fraud in the NSW branch of the HSU, but an outcome for that investigation could be months away.
"Mr Thomson remains a person of interest in Strike Force Carnarvon inquiries," Det Supt Dyson said.
"I cannot say whether a decision will be made as to whether he'll be charged.
"That is very much dependent on the strength of the evidence at the end of the day."
Up to 10 officers arrived at Thomson's electorate offices, including two officers from Victorian police.
"He's been co-operative," Det Supt Dyson said. "He's been very calm. He's accepted what's been said to him. He hasn't argued."
NSW police said their investigation had not been dependent on the outcome of the Victorian investigation.
Victorian police were expected to ask that Thomson be extradited and that he appear in a magistrate's court in Melbourne in February.
Mr McArdle said he was angry at the way his client had been treated, which was a "plainly unsuitable way to besmirch someone's life".
He believed there was a "huge relationship" between the hung federal parliament and his client's predicament.
Mr McArdle said he did not do Victorian criminal law so alternative legal representation in Melbourne may be required "but our client will definitely be there".
