A RENMARK Paringa councillor, former Labor Party candidate and Renmark Irrigation Trust board member has been dumped by his political party and has requested a leave of absence from council duties after appearing in court last week on multiple charges of sexual and violent offences.
Sim Singh-Malhi, of Renmark, appeared in the Berri Magistrates Court last Thursday after being arrested and charged with two counts of sexual intercourse without consent, choking, suffocating or strangling a person in a domestic setting, false imprisonment, and aggravated charge of threatening to kill or endanger life.
Mr Singh-Malhi did not enter plea at the hearing, but was granted bail.
Mr Singh-Malhi ran as the SA Labor candidate in the Chaffey electorate during the 2018 state election, finishing third, before making a successful transition to local government after being elected to the Renmark Paringa Council later that year.
SA Labor leader Peter Malinauskas said last Friday he had taken immediate action to begin the process of expelling Mr Singh-Malhi from the party.
“Yesterday, I took immediate action in relation to the arrest of a former Labor candidate for serious sex and violence offences,” Mr Malinauskas said.
“As a leader, I must send a strong message that domestic violence is deplorable, there are consequences and it will not be tolerated.
“I have directed the ALP SA state secretary to immediately take the necessary actions to expel this member from our party.”
Renmark Paringa chief executive officer Tony Siviour said a leave of absence requested by Mr Singh-Malhi was considered by council at a special meeting last night.
Mr Siviour said the charges against Mr Singh-Malhi were a “matter for the courts” and that council would not be making any comment on the matter.
Renmark Irrigation Trust general manager Rosalie Auricht said the trust was “undertaking due process” and would make no further comment.
Mr Singh-Mahli is next scheduled to appear in court on July 13, 2021 in the Adelaide Magistrates Court.