ICAC inquiry hears police officer’s home raided as he was being taken to hospital after trying to take own life during investigation

A parliamentary ICAC inquiry has heard bombshell claims police raided the home of a fellow officer as he was being rushed to hospital after trying to take his own life.

Police officers raided the family home of a high-ranking fellow officer, who had been under investigation by ICAC, as he was being rushed to hospital after attempting to take his own life, a parliamentary inquiry has heard.

The hearing on Monday was told officers seized numerous items, including former chief superintendent Doug Barr’s defence material and badges from his police hats, during the search.

The raid occurred about a week after an ICAC report made no findings of corruption, maladministration or misconduct against Mr Barr, the inquiry was told, however his family said police were likely unaware of the report at the time as it had not been released by the anti-corruption watchdog.

Mr Barr’s wife Debbie and one of their sons Christopher both gave evidence to the parliamentary investigation into harm caused by ICAC inquiries and said if the ICAC report had been released as soon as it was completed, and not months after their husband and father’s death, Mr Barr might still be alive today.

Debbie Barr with a photo of herself and her husband Doug, who took his own life after being investigated by ICAC – which later had no findings against him. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Mrs Barr said her husband became embroiled in an ICAC investigation that was launched in 2017 and lasted almost three years, during which Mr Barr became increasingly distressed and eventually tried to take his own life at his home in October 2019. He suffered irreversible brain damage and died five days later in hospital.

Mrs Barr said when Mr Barr was taken to hospital, a police officer who had arrived at their home offered to lock up the house for her so she and her sons could follow her husband to hospital.

“After we left, more officers started to arrive at our house – little did we know while we were at the hospital waiting to find out if Doug was even alive, our house was being searched,” she said.

Mrs Barr said the raid took place without their knowledge and without them being presented with a warrant.

She said she realised what had happened only when she discovered two police receipts left at her house for items that had been taken. She then reviewed their home’s CCTV vision.

She said the officers seized numerous items, including a transcript of Mr Barr’s ICAC examination, drafts of his defence material, his personal laptop and mobile phone as well as badges from his police hats.

“It left us feeling utterly violated on the worst day of our lives,” she said.

“It (also) left us completely devoid of any hope of ability to argue in Doug’s defence.”

Mrs Barr said SA Police had since returned some of the items, but it still had personal laptop, phone and some of his defence material.

Mrs Barr and Christopher were supportive of changes to the ICAC.

Earlier during the hearing, inaugural ICAC Bruce Lander, who was at the helm of the agency from 2013 to 2020, called on SA-Best MLC Frank Pangallo to stand down from the parliamentary inquiry as he had an “apprehended bias”.

Mr Lander said Mr Pangallo had made numerous comments and claims in relation to ICAC matters that were incorrect.

Mr Pangallo, who advocated for the inquiry and chaired the committee running it, said he had “absolutely no intention of recusing myself”.

Former ICAC commissioner Bruce Lander QC. Picture: AAP / David Mariuz

“What we saw today by Mr Lander strikes at the very foundations of our democracy – asking a person to excuse themselves from a committee because the probing questions that person continues to ask are uncomfortable for the witness to handle,” he said.

Meanwhile, current ICAC Ann Vanstone has quit her other role as Judicial Conduct Commissioner.

Ms Vanstone was unavailable to comment on Monday but ICAC posted a message on its Twitter account saying Ms Vanstone had advised the Governor on Thursday evening she was resigning from the role, effective immediately.

A government spokeswoman said Ms Vanstone in July recommended the role of ICAC and Judicial Conduct Commissoner be separated, echoing a similar recommendation made by Mr Lander.

“The state government accepted this recommendation, and has been working on transitional arrangements,” she said.

“An acting commissioner will be announced shortly.”

On Thursday night Commissioner Vanstone advised the Governor that she was resigning her appointment as Judicial Conduct Commissioner, effective immediately. Enquiries about how to make a complaint about a judicial officer should be directed to the Attorney-General

— ICAC SA (@ICAC_SA) September 27, 2021

Ms Vanstone last week raised concerns about new ICAC laws that were passed by parliament on Thursday.

She said the laws sought to shield politicians from scrutiny. Mr Lander suggested they had “the effect of protecting corrupt police officers and corrupt politicians”.

Mr Pangallo, who introduced the legislation, has previously said the laws would not weaken the state’s integrity agencies but would “actually ensure a smoother and more focused approach”.