ICAC victims Margaret Cunneen and Charif Kazal keep fighting for justice

A state parliamentary report into the reputational damage inflicted on ICAC witnesses has been slammed by two of the commission’s highest profile victims.

High-profile barrister Margaret Cunneen and Sydney businessman Charif Kazal have united in a call for the state’s corruption watchdog to issue a formal apology for the “reckless” and “unjust” destruction of their reputations.

The call follows the release of a state parliamentary report into the reputational impact of inquiries on witnesses appearing before the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), which has ruled against an exoneration protocol.

Barrister Margaret Cunneen.

Businessman Charif Kazal.

Ms Cunneen, a former crown prosecutor, previously declared ICAC to be a “shaming campaign” for “maximum humiliation” after it launched an investigation into allegations she attempted to influence the outcome of police inquiries into a car accident involving the girlfriend of one of her sons.

Rejecting the claims, Cunneen successfully appealed to the NSW Court of Appeal with the matter heard in the High Court, which ruled the corruption watchdog had exceeded its authority, and that the alleged conduct could not have amounted to corruption.

ICAC made a corrupt finding against Mr Kazal but insufficient evidence meant he was never charged.

Both cases have been the subject of independent legal reviews, with each highlighting moral and administrative failings.

But the committee on the ICAC “Reputational impact on an individual being adversely named in the ICAC’s investigations” report ruled any exoneration was unwarranted.

Ms Cunneen described the report as a “profound disappointment” for herself and Mr Kazal.

However, she said neither was preparing to give up.

Mr Kazal, who wants an apology and compensation, admitted that even “billions” would not make up for the reputational damage ICAC had caused him.

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