Former Newcastle mayor, Jeff McCloy, has commenced legal proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court, seeking the removal of ICAC commissioner, Megan Latham, as well as a suppression of the inquiry’s findings.
Mr McCloy’s legal team is arguing Operation Spicer was biased.
“My legal team will argue that the actions of the commissioner, prior to the commencement of Operation Spicer and her actions and those of the commission during the inquiry, displayed an apprehension of bias”, he said in a statement.
The disgraced Mayor also refers to Commissioner Latham making headlines in 2014 when she publicly stated in a speech to the NSW Bar Association that the questioning of a witness during a public inquiry is “like pulling wings off a butterfly because you have actually worked out what you want to get out of the witness and you know exactly what you expect the witness to say “.
His legal team will allege the comments indicate Ms Latham took delight in manipulating witnesses.
The matter is set down for an initial hearing next week
