Adelaide City councillor Jing Li accused, by defeated rival Alexander Hyde, of ‘doctoring discovery’ in election win trial

An Adelaide City councillor has been accused of deliberately holding on to key evidence about his 2022 win – but he insists he’s actually being “upfront”.

An Adelaide City councillor has repeatedly promised, yet failed, to hand over key social media chats about his election win and “might be doctoring” a high-profile trial, a court has heard.

Central Ward winner Jing Li has been accused, by his defeated rival Alexander Hyde, of “deliberately” withholding records of pre-vote WeChat communications with his supporters.

In the Court of Disputed Returns, counsel for Mr Hyde reminded Judge Michael Burnett he had ordered Mr Li to make “discovery” – or hand over all relevant WeChat logs – six times so far.

David Blyth, for Mr Hyde, said Mr Li had given “repeated, unequivocal assurances” he had surrendered “all material related to the allegations of illegal conduct” made by his client.

However, he said Mr Li had subsequently “fallen on his sword” and conceded “he had forgotten about” additional relevant messages.

Adelaide City Councillor Jing Li outside court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Former councillor Alexander Hyde outside court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

“The most favourable conclusion to Mr Li that could be drawn is that he has misunderstood his discovery obligations,” he said.

“But, in the context of the assertions given to the contrary, the finding is open … that the failure is deliberate.

“(We) do not have any confidence that, whatever orders Your Honour makes, Mr Li will willingly comply with his discovery obligations.

“The only way to find out whether Mr Li might be, for want of a better expression, doctoring his discovery is to seek (subpoenas) against other parties and compare them with each other.”

Mr Li defeated Mr Hyde in the 2022 council election by 31 votes – that margin was later revealed to be a computer error, and he won by 24 votes.

At trial, Mr Hyde alleged Mr Li won through “illegal practices” that had been captured in photos and a series of covert recordings.

Mr Li has denied the allegations and says he has “done his best endeavours” to comply with court orders. Picture: Dean Martin

Mr Li, who has not been charged with any criminal offence, denied the allegations and labelled Mr Hyde’s bid to overturn the vote “speculative and embarrassing”.

Last month, Mr Hyde won the right to re-open the trial to tender emails in which Mr Li allegedly personally facilitated the enrolment of 500 potential voters.

During the hearing, Mr Blyth urged the court to order the subpoenas and ban Mr Li from speaking to people involved in the WeChat conversations.

Helen Luu, for Mr Li, said her client did not object to that course but stressed it was important to consider “the context” of the alleged failures.

“Mr Li has done his best endeavours to comply with the court orders … he has gone home (after court) and recalled ‘actually, there may be more’,” she said.

“(This) does not necessarily support any submission of deliberate nondisclosure, but … a reflection and an upfrontness.”

Judge Burnett issued the subpoenas and imposed the ban – the case returns to court later this year.