The overseer of the Northern Territory’s Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) has found the commissioner did not improperly offer money to his estranged wife to suppress domestic violence allegations.
ICAC Commissioner Michael Riches was last week referred to the watchdog’s inspector by NT Chief Minister Eva Lawler.
It came after legal documents showed he agreed to pay his wife, Jennifer Riches, $20,000, at the same time as she withdrew a domestic violence order against him.
Mr Riches refuted any wrongdoing, and the ABC is not suggesting he committed any criminal acts or broke the law.
In a statement released on Monday, Chief Minister Eva Lawler released a summary of the inspector’s findings.
She said ICAC Inspector Bruce McClintock SC had found Mr Riches had not “improperly offered $20,000 to his former wife to suppress an allegation of domestic violence”.
She said Mr McClintock was also “not able to make a conclusive determination” regarding domestic violence allegations made by Ms Riches, and that no claims made against the commissioner could constitute corrupt conduct under the ICAC Act.
Ms Lawler also said the inspector had advised her Mr Riches would “require a period of time to focus on his health and recovery”.
“He is not fit to carry out his duties at this time,” she said.
“As advised last week, I have immediately moved to appoint Ms Naomi Loudon as the Acting ICAC, for an indefinite period, to enable the important work of the Office of the ICAC to continue.”
Mr McClintock’s report, Ms Lawler said, would not be made public because it contained sensitive information.
“The ICAC Inspector has identified that his report contains confidential information concerning both Mr Riches and Ms Riches’ allegations, and legal documents which are the subject of legal professional privilege, as well as highly confidential medical information,” she said,
“On this basis it should not be published.”
In response to questions from the ABC, ICAC Inspector Bruce McClintock confirmed media reports that he did not interview Mr Riches’s former partner, Jennifer Riches, before finalising the review.
“Having read her material carefully, I concluded that I could not adequately determine the allegation given the powers I have as Inspector under the relevant legislation, amongst other reasons,” Mr McClintock said.
He also confirmed the report looked into whether Mr Riches had properly disclosed the allegations, but would not say what the outcome was.
“It would be inappropriate for me to disclose the contents of a report that I presented to the Chief Minister,” Mr McClintock said.
“It is entirely a matter for her if she wishes to do so.”
Ms Riches has been contacted for comment.
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