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Kim Dotcom and John Banks - Source: ONE News -
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Act MP John Banks has added a gift basket received from internet giant Kim Dotcom to his parliamentary disclosure return after its value was pointed out to him.
The gift basket, worth about $1000, was sent to his hotel in Hong Kong, where he was staying on the recommendation of Dotcom's staff.
Banks said he did not accept it and gave it to hotel staff, not giving it any further thought.
Now he says he has learned - through the media - that the gift was worth more than $500 which is the threshold for disclosure under the Register of Pecuniary and Other Specified Interests.
The basket is another example of Dotcom's gifts to the Epsom MP.
Police are currently investigating whether Banks knew the source of two $25,000 donations from Dotcom to his failed 2010 mayoralty campaign which were declared as anonymous.
Dotcom claims he discussed the donation with Banks at his Auckland mansion, and later received a phone call thanking him for the money.
But Banks said he never called Dotcom to thank him for the $50,000 donation to his 2010 campaign.