$134,000 spy bill under spotlight on ICAC inquiry's final day
The NSW corruption watchdog has heard developer Toplace paid a private investigator $134,000 to surveil a former Strathfield mayor, despite the covert operation being described as a "personal matter" for company lawyer and Labor councillor Sharangan Maheswaran.
On the final day of the ICAC inquiry into Operation Rosny, developer Toplace's $134,000 surveillance bill for former Strathfield mayor Matthew Blackmore's monitoring was brought under scrutiny. Toplace's lawyer, Sharangan Maheswaran, testified that he convinced his employer to cover the cost, citing tangential links to the developer and his personal debt to another firm affiliated with Toplace's founder, Jean Nassif.
Maheswaran also revealed that he received covert surveillance equipment from private investigator Shane De Kauwe, who monitored Blackmore for months in 2022 and 2023. Text messages revealed Maheswaran joking about the surveillance, referencing Sting's song "Every Breath You Take." The investigation, which has examined allegations of political influence, secret payments, and attempts to target opponents, concluded its two-month hearings, uncovering efforts to support a right-wing Liberal faction and advance Jean Nassif's interests.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
