Annabel Digance files lawsuit against SA premier, claiming she was a victim of prosecution

Australia Broadcast Center

a day ago

Former South Australian MP Annabel Digance has launched a $2.3 million lawsuit against Premier Peter Malinauskas, claiming that he led a "malicious prosecution" in an attempt to damage her reputation.
Documents filed in the Supreme Court by Ms Digance, against Mr Malinauskas and the State of South Australia, claim the former MP was a victim of a prosecution "motivated by [the premier's] own personal and political advantage".
Ms Digance and her husband, Greg Digance, were previously facing blackmail charges in the Adelaide Magistrates Court after allegedly threatening to make allegations of misconduct against Mr Malinauskas in 2020 — when he was leader of the opposition.
Those charges were dropped in April 2023.
The court documents, filed by Sydney-based law firm Carroll & O'Dea Solicitors on behalf of Ms Digance, claim she was "maliciously prosecuted" by Mr Malinauskas, SA Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions.
"The Applicant also alleges trespass to person and property, wrongful arrest and false imprisonment by the SA Police," the document reads.
The document goes on to claim that Mr Malinauskas was "motivated to maximise his own and SA Labor's prospects of success at the 2022 state election" and that he, or a member of the SA Police, had provided information to the media in an attempt to "maximise the public humiliation of Mrs Digance".
In a statement to ABC News, the premier said he was not surprised by the lawsuit.
"It is not surprising the Digances have chosen to take this course of action, considering their previous behaviour," he said.
"All I have ever wanted is for the Digances to leave me alone.
"The Digances won't distract me from delivering for the people of South Australia."
The case is due to be heard in the Supreme Court on Wednesday.