Obeid and three of his sons claimed they had suffered financial and reputational harm as a result of Icac’s inquiry into a $30m coal deal in 2012

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Former NSW minister Eddie Obeid has lost his civil case against the anti-corruption body which investigated the granting of a coal exploration licence on his family’s land.

Obeid and three of his five sons – Moses, Paul and Eddie jr – claimed they had been denied procedural fairness at an Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) hearing which found he acted corruptly.

In the supreme court on Tuesday, Justice David Hammerschlag dismissed all the Obeid claims.

Obeid, who suffered a stroke in August, was not present. Only Moses was in court for the decision and later indicated the family might appeal.

Lucy Carter (@lucethoughts) Moses Obeid just left court VERY fast. Says 'there's a long way to go yet' and indicated they may appeal.

Hammerschlag found the Obeids were not denied procedural fairness, but were given adequate opportunity to deal with relevant matters before the Icac inquiry.

He dismissed claims that Icac, its former commissioner David Ipp, former counsel assisting Geoffrey Watson SC and other former officers abused their power in public office.

He also dismissed claims of misfeasance in public office and found the Obeids did not establish that they suffered any loss.

Eddie Obeid found guilty of misconduct in public office Read more

The Obeids contended the parties knowingly or recklessly exceeded their powers with knowledge or reckless indifference as to the damage it would cause the Obeids.

The case has been hugely expensive, with dozens of barristers and solicitors deployed for the parties. Costs will be decided in February.

Kate McClymont (@Kate_McClymont) Costs in the Obeids v #ICAC case are estimated to be a whopping $5million. @Eddie_Obeid will need a new coal/water/marina/property deal

Part of the Obeids’ case related to two confidential government maps said to have been seized from an Obeid family office during the execution of a search warrant relating to the Operation Jasper inquiry into the issuing of a coal mining exploration licence on Obeid family land at Mount Penny in the Bylong Valley, near Mudgee.

Icac found the licence enabled the Obeid family to make $30m.

Eddie Obeid faces a sentence hearing in October after a jury found him guilty of wilful misconduct in public office in 2007 over retail leases at Sydney’s Circular Quay.

In December, he, Moses and former NSW mining minister Ian Macdonald are due to face a committal hearing over the Mount Penny licence.