ICAC removes Turf Club report from website following former board member’s court ‘win’

Corruption watchdog Michael Riches has removed a report by his predecessor into the Darwin Turf Club, pending ‘review’, after the Supreme Court found the inquiry was bungled.

CORRUPTION watchdog Michael Riches has removed a report by his predecessor into the Darwin Turf Club, pending “review”, after the Supreme Court found the inquiry was bungled.

Justice Judith Kelly found former Independent Commissioner Against Corruption, Ken Fleming QC, failed to afford ex board member Damien Moriarty procedural fairness and acted outside his jurisdiction in handing down the findings last year.

In response, Mr Riches, who took over from Mr Fleming in July last year, said “in light of the declarations made by the Supreme Court” on Thursday, he had removed the report from the ICAC’s website.

“I have done so in order that the content of the report can be reviewed in light of the Supreme Court’s declarations,” he said.

“I do not presently contemplate republishing the public statement while other judicial proceedings relating to it are ongoing.”

Mr Moriarty said his lawyers were continuing to “review the lengthy decision”.

“The decision to remove the report is a matter for the ICAC,” he said.

Speaking after the decision was handed down earlier this week, he said he had a lodged a complaint about the report with ICAC Inspector Bruce McClintock SC “on multiple grounds”.

“I am limited by what I can say as I have a significant complaint accepted by the Inspector of the ICAC that has paused pending the outcome of this case,” he said.

“While this Supreme Court decision only concerned my role at the DTC, I understand it has many in the community and the racing fraternity, questioning the integrity of the process that occurred throughout this debacle,” he said.

Racing, Gaming and Licensing Minister Chansey Paech said: “At this stage, discussions around the recovery of the $12 million grant to the Darwin Turf Club remain ongoing.”

Originally published as ICAC removes Turf Club report from website following former board member’s court ‘win’