Rogue developer lied in evidence, former lawyer claims
Sarah Spina-Matthews and Max Aldred |
A fugitive developer’s lawyer has told a corruption hearing his former client had “absolutely” lied in his testimony to the same inquiry.
Sharangan Maheswaran is giving evidence before the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption over his dealings with developer Jean Nassif.
Nassif, the former director of collapsed Sydney company Toplace, is accused of paying NSW Liberal Party operatives for political outcomes benefiting his interests, including harming the reputation of former minister David Elliott.
Mr Elliott, a public critic of Nassif’s developments, claimed he was pushed out of the party by a right-wing faction known as the Reformers before the 2023 election.
While giving evidence to the commission from his bedroom in Lebanon earlier this week, Nassif – who is wanted by NSW Police over fraud allegations, denied the allegations.
However, he did admit paying members of the Reformers, namely lobbyists Jeremy Greenwood and Christian Ellis, to help him get approval on two of his developments.
He said Mr Maheswaran was involved in such negotiations.
In his belligerent appearance, Nassif also launched a tirade against Mr Elliott, saying he tried to stop his developments because was “racist” and a “dictator”.
Mr Maheswaran told the commission on Friday that his role was merely to help Nassif navigate planning regulations to get his projects approved.
He said he was not aware of any plot against Mr Elliott.
“Do you seriously contend to the commission that Jean Nassif never told you that David Elliot was objecting to his proposals?” counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer SC asked Mr Maheswaran.
“This is a new invention by Mr Nassif when I heard his evidence,” he replied.
“You’re saying that Mr Nassif lied to the commission? Is that right?” Dr Dwyer asked.
“Absolutely,” he replied.
He did later admit that Nassif had said he wanted Mr Elliott “off his back” and that he likely would have welcomed his ousting.
In his evidence, Mr Elliott told the inquiry he opposed the Toplace development after being told by voters the properties were potentially defective.
The inquiry earlier heard Mr Maheswaran and Mr Greenwood texted each other while working for Nassif.
Dr Dwyer read into the commission a text from Mr Greenwood regarding Mr Elliott.
“We have something that will kill Elliott,” it read.
Mr Maheswaran replied “your ears must be ringing”, Dr Dwyer read to the ICAC.
“I just picked up the phone to let you know that I’ve got something decent,” the text continued.
Mr Maheswaran admitted that they were discussing Mr Elliott, but continued to deny that he was looking to damage the former police minister’s career to help Nassif.
For much of the morning’s evidence, Mr Maheswaran fastidiously detailed the organisational structures which covered his relationship with the developer.
Dr Dwyer at one point forced an intervention, saying: “companies are made up of humans, Mr Maheswaran, not robots, they’re not remote things that exist in the ether”.
“You personally, as a human, worked closely with Jean Nassif from September 2020, didn’t you?” she asked.
The commercial lawyer replied “I accept that, yes”.
He told the commission his relationship with the developer became more intertwined over time.
By late 2020, he had held a range of titles which shifted almost every month, he said, including planning adviser, planning manager and group executive.
The value of those relationships amounted to around $1.4 million between July 2020 and March 2023, he told the inquiry, more than the amount on the commission’s records.
AAP