Case against former Labor MP Annabel Digance and husband Greg, for allegedly blackmailing Labor leader Peter Malinauskas, to continue

Former MP Annabel Digance and her husband – who allegedly blackmailed state Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas – will be asked to enter pleas in August.

A former Labor MP and her husband will, in August, answer allegations they sought to blackmail state Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas.

Annabel and Greg Digance made a brief appearance in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Prosecutors confirmed they would be pursuing individual blackmail charges against the Digances, and asked the case return to court in eight weeks’ time.

Ex-Labor MP Annabel Digance and her husband Greg Digance face TV cameras as they leave Adelaide Magistrates Court on blackmail charges. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Ms Digance, 63, and Mr Digance, 60, have yet to plead to one count each of blackmail, which carries a maximum 15-year prison term.

SA Police have alleged they made threats to Mr Malinauskas in 2020 and 2021 in text messages, in telephone calls and at face-to-face meetings.

They allegedly threatened to make false accusations about Mr Malinauskas’ conduct in order to politically wound him in the lead-up to the state election next March.

The Digances are charged with blackmailing SA Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

The threats allegedly included baseless allegations of racism, bullying, harassment and sexism – Mr Malinauskas is neither suspected of, nor being investigated for, any offence.

It is further alleged they issued demands that Mr Malinauskas orchestrate Ms Digance’s return to politics, and continued to do so even after he warned them he would inform police.

Ms Digance was the Labor MP for the seat of Elder from 2014 to 2018.

On Tuesday, Magistrate Simon Smart remanded the couple on continuing bail to face court again in August.