Fugitive Developer Jean Nassif Appears at ICAC Inquiry From Lebanon

Fugitive property developer Jean Nassif has bragged about taking down his political foes and bolstering the right wing of the Liberal party in calls played to the New South Wales corruption watchdog, as he vowed to “speak [his] heart” at his much-anticipated appearance.

Nassif, 58, appeared on Monday at the the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry via audiovisual link from Lebanon.

As part of its investigation into allegations against people associated with the NSW Liberals, Icac is examining the allegation that Liberal figures anticipated receiving $2m in prohibited donations from Nassif in exchange for political outcomes, including damage to the career of NSW Liberal minister, David Elliott, and the removal of the building commissioner, David Chandler.

Nassif has denied wrongdoing.

In an August 2021 phone tap played to the commission, he brags about how he holds “50% of the power of this government now, more – 51, 52%”.

“We won, [the] right wing, we managed to win the right to vote and the right to elect all councils in New South Wales a couple of months ago with my support and only my support,” he told an unknown associate.

“I was told to shuffle the government, get rid of the premier and the police commissioner… and the building commissioner.”

But Nassif on Monday insisted his statements were “all talk” borne from frustration with David Chandler and 2GB radio shockjock Ray Hadley.

In another phone intercept from September 2021, he accused the two of having “destroyed” him for eight years because “they control the councils”.

Nassif then detailed how he “fucked David Elliot badly” by getting rid of his Baulkham Hills branch and stacking the Castle Hill contingent, to give the right numbers on the Liberal’s executive committee.

“The right wing announced that Jean is our godfather,” he said.

Earlier on Monday, the commission heard it was unknown if the appearance would go ahead. Nassif, who fled to Lebanon in 2022, produced a medical certificate to excuse himself from his scheduled appearance earlier in this month.

But as he called into the inquiry from his Beirut home from a patchy video link, he said “I’m going to speak my heart”.

Nassif recalled that he spoke with former prime minister Tony Abbott at a 2019 function to complain about his problems with the centre-right Liberal faction.

He also got claimed the “deep state” who ruled the country was the central-right, and asked to pause proceedings to turn on his air conditioning because his Beirut bedroom was warming up.

After Nassif continued looking off the screen during questioning, counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer SC asked if he was receiving any messages at that moment in relation to the inquiry, which he denied.

He is expected to continue giving evidence on Tuesday afternoon.

Former mayor alleges he was threatened

Earlier in the inquiry, former independent Strathfield council mayor Matthew Blackmore alleged he had been threatened, followed and his children secretly recorded after he refused to honour an agreement to step down, the NSW corruption watchdog has heard.

The inquiry is also investigating accusations levelled against former Labor councillors Sharangan Maheswaran and Karen Pensabene, including whether they engaged in blackmail or possible surveillance against Blackmore.

Blackmore in 2022 had initially agreed to split the mayoralty, so he would take the position first before resigning to allow a Labor councillor, which was expected to be Pensabene, to finish the term, he told the commission.

Maheswaran wanted to ensure Labor leadership at the council, state and federal level before the 2023 state election to bolster campaign efforts, Icac heard.

But in January 2023, Blackmore revealed to the two Labor councillors he wanted to stay on as mayor, which led to them becoming agitated and upset, he said.

Maheswaran allegedly told Blackmore: “What you’ve got to understand, Matthew … I’ve got a reputation in the party that if I don’t like someone, they don’t get away with crossing me. It would take me about six weeks to take you down.”

Blackmore responded by saying he could “get fucked”.

Blackmore told the commission his wife had taken a photo of Maheswaran’s car on the street outside their home, which was near a brothel.

Asked if he was aware this photo could be used to his political advantage, he said he only wanted it to check if the number plate was Maheswaran’s.

Blackmore had seen the car in front of his house a number of times and was “a bit intimidated as to whether he was stalking my house,” he told the commission.

Pensabene later messaged Blackmore to warn him Maheswaran was “out of control”, and said he was printing 20,000 attack flyers.

One of the flyers, which Blackmore referred to as a “shit sheet”, was left on the former mayor’s car, and Pensabene warned him that “everything so far is less than 10% of what is coming”.

At a later meeting, Maheswaran told Blackmore he’d had operatives following him for five months, taking photos and recording his conversations without his knowledge, according to Blackmore.

Blackmore took it to mean they were going to continue releasing media stories if he didn’t resign as mayor.

Soon after, he began receiving inquiries from journalists working for News Corp and YouTuber FriendlyJordies.

According to a statement from Blackmore, Maheswaran told him: “All of this will go away when you resign from the mayoralty. It will stop. You’re not going to have any harassment as long as you agree with us to do this.”

Maheswaran also alleged Blackmore had used the mayoralty vehicle to take a family holiday and told him the location of the vacation.

“The holiday thing was one of the worst because we weren’t actually intending to go and our plans were changed last minute so no one really knew where I was going,” Blackmore said.

The entire situation has changed his sense of personal safety.

In a text to Pensabene, he wrote: “I feel sick that my children have been surveillanced [sic] by Sharangan’s undercover people.”

Maheswaran is due to appear at Icac on Friday.