Revealed: Judge Griffin, the sex worker and the top secret police inquiry
THE investigation that resulted in the resignation of a District Court judge was sparked by allegations concerning his activities in a massage parlour.
THE investigation that resulted in the resignation of District Court Judge Mark Griffin was sparked by allegations concerning his activities in an eastern suburbs massage parlour.
The Sunday Mail can also reveal the owner of the business - an Adelaide lawyer - is currently before the court on charges of rape and assault following his arrest in February.
He is also the subject of a disciplinary matter that is currently before the Legal Practitioner's Conduct Board and earlier this year was the subject of a Supreme Court injunction taken out by a Queensland law firm that has restricted his legal practice.
Sources claim the man was "well aware" that Judge Griffin frequented his massage parlour.
The sources allege Judge Griffin - who resigned his commission several days after being questioned at length over his conduct - had allegedly been frequenting the massage parlour for some time, sometimes visiting the premises several times a month. The business, located on a busy arterial road, offers full massages with other services on negotiation with its clients.
The sources claim on each occasion the same female massage parlour worker would see Judge Griffin for between 45 and 90 minutes. The establishment charges $100 an hour.
While it is unknown how the ACB investigation was initiated, the sources said it could be linked to a falling out between the worker and a man she was in a relationship with last year. The man, 26, has a long criminal record for offences including using an offensive weapon, carrying an offensive weapon, possessing prescribed drug equipment and serious traffic matters. He is currently before the courts on a charge of resisting police following an incident at his home in January.
The sources said the man, who is the son of another woman working at the business, was also aware of the identity of his former girlfriend's frequent client. Following the relationship breakdown, he made allegations about unnamed members of the judiciary attending eastern suburbs massage parlours on his Facebook page.
The sources said ACB detectives raided the massage parlour and seized paperwork. Detectives also raided Judge Griffin's District Court chambers and his Royston Park home searching for evidence. Items seized are still being examined.
The ACB probe has been one of SAPOL's most closely guarded operations because of its sensitivity, with just a handful of senior officers aware of its scope, which involved covert surveillance and months of investigations that culminated in the searches.
Judge Griffin has engaged top criminal lawyers Michael Abbott, QC and Matt Selley to represent him as the investigation continues.
While he can no longer face any disciplinary charges over his alleged conduct, police are still investigating if any criminal conduct has taken place.
Mr Selley has revealed that Judge Griffin "provided assistance to authorities in connection with an investigation" which led to a deterioration of his health, leading to his resignation last Sunday. He said Judge Griffin has not been charged with any offence and "rejects any suggestion that he has committed one".
In a statement released after inquiries by AdelaideNow early Tuesday, District Court Chief Judge Terry Worthington said it was "because of conduct that is inconsistent with his continuing to be a judge".
Police on Friday declined to comment on the status of the continuing investigation.
Judge Griffin, whose resignation takes effect from May 26, was appointed to the District Court in August 2009 after a distinguished career as one of the state's top criminal defence lawyers. Over more than two decades before his appointment, he represented the accused in dozens of high-profile cases, including sex killer Bevan Spencer Von Einem and Snowtown killer John Bunting.