Sandra Lee, Her Car & Her Press Secretary

The Press Secretary Of Alliance MP and Conservation Minister Sandra Lee is off work on full pay pending the outcome of charges of assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and driving while forbidden - charges that arose while driving her boss’s ministerial car.

Moana Sinclair was driving the Nissan Maxima a publicly funded Ministerial car from Auckland to Wellington when she was stopped near Marton by a police officer for speeding.

Her license was then deemed to be invalid because it was not updated to a new photo-id version.

The police officer then forbade her to drive, however another officer caught her still driving near Foxton later.

An altercation allegedly ensued and she was arrested and taken to Wellington by police where she was processed and let go.

She is to appear in Levin District Court on Friday for a preliminary hearing. Alliance sources say she is defending the charges.

In Parliament ACT MP Ken Shirley questioned Ms Lee about about the issue yesterday and asked the cost to the New Zealand public of towage and other related costs.

Ms Lee said she would pay for towage charges herself.

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