NT ICAC Michael Riches on leave after domestic violence allegations

The Territory’s ICAC Commissioner has taken leave following allegations of domestic violence raised by his estranged wife.

NT Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) Michael Riches has taken leave. Picture: Office of the ICAC/Supplied

The head of the Northern Territory anti-corruption watchdog has taken unexpected leave after being referred for investigation over unverified domestic violence allegations made by his estranged wife.

Independent Commissioner against Corruption Michael Riches alerted the Chief Minister to the allegations made against him last week, prompting Eva Lawler to refer the matter to NT ICAC Inspector Bruce McClintock.

In a statement on Tuesday Ms Lawler confirmed Mr Riches was taking leave from the job.

“To ensure the continuity and stability of the Office of the ICAC, I am immediately requesting the Administrator to appoint the current Deputy ICAC, Ms Naomi Loudon, in the role as the Acting ICAC Commissioner,” she said.

“Ms Loudon is currently overseas on planned leave, which commenced prior to the allegations arising. She has been briefed on the matter and will formally commence official duties of the ICAC Commissioner from June 10, upon her return.”

NT ICAC Commissioner Michael Riches with his now-estranged wife Jen Riches. Picture: Supplied

Jennifer Riches, who married Mr Riches almost a decade ago, claimed in a LinkedIn post she had experienced domestic violence throughout the relationship.

“Recently, I visited Bali and had some professional photos done to signify my new lease of (sic) life,” she said in the since deleted post.

“This photo signifies the DV I experienced over the past 10 years.”

Ms Riches told The Australian she spent five nights in a women’s shelter when she left her marriage in May last year.

She told the broadsheet the alleged abuse was behavioural, not physical, giving an example of a miscarriage in 2018.

NT Acting ICAC Commissioner Naomi Loudon.

“I told him ‘Look, I’m bleeding a bit and I need to go to the hospital, I’m really worried’ and he kept on ignoring me,” she told The Australian.

“He just locked himself in a room, and I ended up catching a train back to Sydney and then flying home on my own, having a miscarriage.

“He wasn’t there for me during that, he was just throwing tantrums, telling me I was wrong … getting angry at me for wrecking the holiday.”

Ms Riches also said she had bipolar disorder, which was managed with medication, and that she sometimes struggled to handle her business and personal finances.

Mr Riches last week told media any assertion he had engaged in domestic violence was “not only false, but deeply offensive and highly defamatory”.

“My former partner makes assertions against a lot of people,” he is quoted in the NT Independent.

“While it has certainly been upsetting that she makes such statements, I hope she is well supported and I wish her nothing but the best.”

Mr Riches is not accused of any criminal wrongdoing.

Ms Loudon has acted as ICAC Commissioner previously. She was formerly a crown prosecutor for the Director of Public Prosecutions, and has been involved in the anti-corruption investigations currently underway.

Chief Minister Eva Lawler said she would provide a public update when the ICAC Inspector gave advice or recommendations related to the Riches case.

Ms Riches and the NT ICAC have not responded to request for comment.

Originally published as NT ICAC Michael Riches on leave after domestic violence allegations