Taxpayers pick up $450k legal fees bill for failed ICAC inquiry

The former Renewal SA boss has been reimbursed hundreds of thousands of dollars he spent defending himself in a failed investigation.

Former Renewal SA boss John Hanlon has been reimbursed $450,000 in legal fees he incurred defending himself following a botched ICAC investigation.

The settlement takes the amount taxpayers have paid out in reimbursements for failed ICAC matters to more than $3 million over the past two years.

It comes as ICAC inspector Philip Strickland SC continues his inquiry into the investigation and subsequent failed prosecution of Mr Hanlon on corruption charges.

The state government instigated the inquiry after prosecutors in November withdrew their case against Mr Hanlon, 63, of Goodwood, who was accused of using taxpayers money to fund a personal trip to Germany for the birth of his grandchild.

Former Renewal SA boss John Hanlon, right, outside the District Court with his daughter Millie Hanlon and wife Jenny after the DPP withdrew all charges against him. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

The case crumbled prior to his trial when ICAC investigators conceded in court they had breached international law while in Germany.

The court also heard ICAC had been in possession of evidence supporting Mr Hanlon’s claims of innocence since August 2019, but had never disclosed it.

ICAC inspector Philip Strickland SC, Picture Julianne Osborne

Mr Hanlon on Wednesday said he was “relieved’’ the settlement had been reached.

“It has helped financially, it has been a hell of a drain on us,’’ he said.

“I am very much relieved we have been able to get that payment and we can resolve some of our financial issues.

“We have borrowed against our house through this and it will be nice to clear that debt and move on.’’

Mr Hanlon said while he had not been reimbursed all of the almost $500,000 he spent defending himself, his lawyers would await the results of the inquiry being conducted by Mr Strickland before making any further claims.

However, this would most likely be in the form of Supreme Court action to recover the remainder of his legal fees and compensation for reputational damage he has incurred.

“I will not do anything until that has been completed. I will respect that whole process and then consider what sort of claim we make,’’ he said.

“I am trusting the process, we have put a submission to the inspector.

“I am more concerned about some of the public statements that have been made while the inquiry is still underway.’’

Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Ann Vanstone KC – picture Tony Lewis Photography

In a radio interview earlier this month ICAC Ann Vanstone KC said she had completed her internal review of the Hanlon case and had presented the 100-page report to Mr Strickland.

“ … obviously things weren’t perfect, nothing is ever perfect in an investigation, nor a prosecution,’’ she said in the ABC interview.

“And there’s always room for improvement and I have identified a couple of areas, three areas really, where improvements need to be made and we’re working on that.’’

Mr Strickland, who was appointed ICAC inspector last December, has the same powers as the independent Commissioner Against Corruption during his inquiry, allowing him to compel witnesses to answer questions and produce any documents he requests.

His inquiry is examining the actions of ICAC investigators during the inquiry into Mr Hanlon and the role prosecutors in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions played in the carriage of the matter through the courts system.

The inquiry is expected to be completed by June.