DIY: Why is this wired thusly?

[Wobblers]

Yes, and no it's as it appears.

The live reds have been wired together as have the Earth wires.

The black wires appear to carry no charge, when tested with an electricians screwdriver.

I'd bin that electrician's screwdriver if I were you. All that's between you and the mains is one resistor. As you can imagine, it'll be the cheapest, nastiest 1/4 watt carbon composition resistor they could find at Schenzen market. Not the sort of thing you want to go trusting your life to...