Ex-mayor's children secretly recorded after refusal to leave job, ICAC hears
Former Strathfield mayor Matthew Blackmore has tearfully recalled learning his children had been secretly recorded on a family holiday during a campaign of alleged threats and blackmail aimed at getting him to hand over the council's top job.
Former Strathfield mayor Matthew Blackmore has shared distressing details of how his children were secretly recorded while his family was on holiday, before facing threats and blackmail from opposing councillors. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is investigating potential breaches of electoral donation laws, with the involvement of former councillor Sharangan Maheswaran and current councillor Karen Pensabene.
Mr Blackmore's refusal to hand over the mayoralty to Ms Pensabene, part-way through his term, sparked the alleged campaign of intimidation. During testimony, Mr Blackmore revealed that he was secretly recorded for five months, including on a holiday trip outside Sydney. He also recounted the intimidation from Mr Maheswaran, who threatened to "take him down" if he crossed him. Mr Blackmore eventually stepped down and went public with his concerns about the situation.
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