A FORMER Riverland politician who was bailed on serious sexual crime charges has been removed as a director for a local irrigation trust and stepped away from his duties as a councillor.
Renmark Paringa councillors passed a resolution to grant Sim Singh-Malhi a leave of absence from council, effective immediately until July 31, 2021.
The decision came after Mr Singh-Malhi appeared in the Berri Magistrates Court recently, facing charges that included two counts of sexual intercourse without consent, shoking, suffocating or strangling a person in a domestic setting, false imprisonment, and an aggravated charge of threatening to kill or endanger life.
Renmark Irrigation Trust (RIT) then announced Mr Singh-Malhi would no longer act as a director for the organisation.
RIT general manager Rosalie Auricht said the decision was made to “ensure the ongoing effective management of the Trust and a fully functioning Board”.
“The Trust resolved on September 9, 2020, to remove Mr Singh-Malhi from the office of a director of the Trust,” Ms Auricht said.
“This resolution should in no way be misconstrued as a judgement on the matter before the courts. The Trust will now proceed to fill the resultant casual vacancy on the Board.”
Mr Singh-Malhi was granted bail and will now appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court next July.
Mr Singh-Malhi – whose elected member allowance will be withheld – was absent from the special council meeting.