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ABC News
ABC News
National
By Natarsha Kallios

Former magistrate 'exaggerated' involvement with disabled daughter 'in effort to secure leniency'

Former Magistrate Bob Harrap (centre) will be sentenced for corruption offences in two weeks.

Former magistrate Bob Harrap "significantly exaggerated" the level of care he gave to his disabled daughter "in an effort to secure leniency", the South Australian District Court has been told.

On Friday, the court heard Harrap will not challenge his ex-wife and eldest daughter's claim he has limited involvement with his disabled daughter.

The court previously heard he required his driver's license to care for his disabled daughter.

Suspended police prosecutor Abigail Foulkes, 48, and court clerk Melanie Freeman, 46, have faced the District Court ahead of sentencing later this month.

They were charged alongside Harrap and defence lawyer Catherine Moyse after a probe by the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) in June.

All four co-accused have pleaded guilty to corruption offences.

Judge Paul Slattery was told Foulkes and Freeman felt pressured to hand over their driver's licence numbers to Harrap so he could get out of two speeding fines and avoid losing his licence.

On Friday, Prosecutor Peter Longson told Judge Slattery that "it's open for this court to find that Mr Harrap has significantly exaggerated his actual involvement with the care of [his disabled daughter] in 2020, in an effort to secure leniency".

"The Director submits that is a matter that can go to the issue of personal deterrence and could be reflected in the ultimate sentence imposed, Your Honor."

Harrap is due to be sentenced in two weeks.

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