Internal NT ICAC allegations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ made against commissioner Michael Riches
Beleaguered NT ICAC commissioner Michael Riches has been referred to the Commissioner for Public Employment.
New allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” have been levelled against Northern Territory ICAC commissioner Michael Riches by his staff during an investigation first launched over concerns he offered his wife $20,000 to stop her domestic violence order application against him reaching the courts.
Allegations “relating to employment-related matters” were raised by staff about Mr Riches to the NT ICAC Inspector Bruce McClintock SC, who spearheaded an investigation into Mr Riches after it was revealed a DVO application was served on him in May last year but withdrawn shortly after the financial offer was made.
The new allegations were not made public by Mr McClintock, who has been criticised for not interviewing Mr Riches’s estranged wife, Jennifer Riches, who alleged Mr Riches’s temper and controlling behaviour during their eight year marriage caused her to leave the family home and stay in motels on a few occasions during their relationship.
Last week, Mr McClintock found the allegation that the anti-corruption chief had improperly offered the payment to Ms Riches to suppress any allegations of domestic violence made by her “not to be true” and he could not “conclusively” determine whether the domestic violence allegations made against Mr Riches were true.
The Australian does not suggest the new allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” are true, only that they are being investigated.
In a statement to Sky News published on Tuesday, Mr Riches alleged provided evidence he had immediately reported the DVO application to Mr McClintock.
Mr Riches has declined numerous requests by this masthead to discuss the allegations in detail, and on Tuesday said he was unaware of the nature of new allegations made. “If there are human resource matters within my office to be addressed, I want them addressed,” he said.
A spokesperson for NT Chief Minister Eva Lawler said the new allegations had been referred to the Commissioner for Public Employment. “During the course of the ICAC Inspector’s examination, he received allegations relating to employment-related matters within the Office of the ICAC,” the spokesperson said.
“The ICAC Inspector determined that these matters were outside the scope of his inquiries and should be referred to the Commissioner for Public Employment, which has been done.”
During his investigation, it is understood Mr McClintock interviewed Mr Riches and NT ICAC staff, but not Ms Riches, who made the allegations and did not receive a response when she offered to provide more information to Mr McClintock during the course of his investigation.
“Highly confidential” medical information relating to the former couple was obtained by Mr McClintock, but Ms Riches has not been able to respond – or verify – the medical information that is said to have been obtained.
The 49-year-old Mr Riches is overseeing some of the biggest corruption investigations in the country, including into former police officer Zach Rolfe’s allegations of widespread racism in Darwin’s elite police unit.
He is responsible for investigating “cases of corrupt conduct and anti-democratic conduct” among public officers and bodies.
A summary of the Inspector’s findings is due to be handed down on Thursday.
The NT Independent reported at the end of May that Ms Riches made a LinkedIn post alluding to being the victim of domestic violence.
Mr Riches, who is on an annual salary of almost $500,000, offered Ms Riches $12,000 plus $1000 for eight fortnights on the basis she withdrew her DVO application filed with a Darwin Court in May last year, and “contingent upon Mr Riches remaining in his employment at ICAC.”
According to legal correspondence between the couple obtained by The Australian, prior to Ms Riches filing her DVO application, she sought $30,000 as “urgent lump sum spousal maintenance”.
Mr Riches has been on unplanned leave since the end of May.
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