Former Renewal SA chief executive John Hanlon calls for permanent stay on corruption charges

A former senior public servant accused of making fraudulent travel claims will argue the prosecution case against him amounts to an abuse of process.

Former Renewal SA chief executive John Hanlon and people and place management general manager Georgina Vasilevski were charged with multiple offences following an 18-month Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) investigation.

It was alleged the pair made fraudulent travel expense claims for trips to Melbourne and Berlin that were for private purposes.

The pair strongly maintained their innocence.

Earlier this year, the prosecution conceded it did not have enough evidence to prove the charges and the case was thrown out of court.

Prosecutors then laid fresh charges against Mr Hanlon for abuse of public office and dishonest dealings with documents.

Mr Hanlon today pleaded not guilty to those charges in the District Court.

His lawyer, David Edwardson QC, told the court he would be applying for a permanent stay of proceedings, saying the prosecution amounted to an abuse of process.

Mr Edwardson said he would be seeking to subpoena documents relating to communications from ICAC, the Director of Public Prosecution’s office and Attorney-General Vickie Chapman, who may be required to give evidence.

“It may be that the Attorney-General herself may have to give evidence,” Mr Edwardson told the court.

Outcome of High Court hearing to affect case 

Mr Edwardson told the court that senior prosecutors involved in the original prosecution should not be involved in the current case.

Outside court, Mr Hanlon described the prosecution case against him as disgusting.

The matter was listed for argument on the permanent stay application in March.

Mr Edwardson told the court he wanted to wait for a High Court hearing in a separate matter involving independent MP Troy Bell.

The former Liberal is accused of misappropriating $2 million in public funds while working for an independent learning centre before he entered parliament.

Depending on what decision or findings the High Court makes in that case, there could be potential legal implications for other prosecutions relating to ICAC investigations.