{
  "id": 7313322,
  "title": "Developer claimed he was 'Godfather' of Liberal faction",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/developer-claimed-he-was-godfather-of-liberal-faction",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-14T09:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Discovered",
    "slug": "discovered",
    "url": "https://newcastleherald.com.au/story/9349933/developer-claimed-he-was-godfather-of-liberal-faction"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Jean Nassif, a former director of the defunct Sydney firm Toplace, is under investigation for his alleged role in a corrupt Liberal Party faction. Nassif, who is currently residing in Beirut, provided testimony via video link to a NSW Independent Commissioner Against Corruption hearing on Monday. The inquiry is probing claims that Liberal officials received illicit donations in exchange for advancing Nassif's interests, including tarnishing the image of former NSW Liberal minister David Elliott.\n\nElliott, once a vocal critic of Nassif's developments, claims he was ousted from the party by a right-wing group known as the Reformers when his seat was eliminated prior to the 2023 election. Nassif, wanted by NSW Police for fraud allegations, stated that he planned to \"speak his heart\" and accused Elliott of blocking his projects in western Sydney due to alleged racial and corrupt motives. Nassif reportedly vented his grievances about Elliott and other right-wing party members to former Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Liberal figure JP Abood, leading him to seek assistance from lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood and Christian Ellis. The inquiry heard that Nassif promised to provide $1 million to facilitate the approval of two of his stalled projects in exchange for their aid.\n\nNassif's employee, Sharangan Maheswaran, was involved in the negotiations, he claimed. A recording of a phone call between Nassif and an associate, translated from Arabic to English by the commission, revealed that Nassif boasted about controlling more than half of the government and being known as the \"Godfather\" of the Liberal Party. He denied paying lobbyists to enlist the help of Charles Perrottet, brother of former Premier Dominic Perrottet, and other party operatives in influencing political outcomes. However, Nassif later formed a friendship with Charles Perrottet, who was tasked with convincing Nassif to resume payments to the lobbyists after he stopped funding them due to a perceived lack of progress on his developments.\n\nThe inquiry also heard about an alleged blackmail scheme against former Strathfield mayor Matthew Blackmore. Blackmore alleged that Maheswaran, a former Labor councillor and Toplace employee, exerted pressure and surveillance on him after he backed out of a deal to cede the leadership to another Labor councillor before the 2023 state election. Blackmore claimed Maheswaran threatened to \"flop\" him within six weeks if he continued. The commission is investigating whether Maheswaran and/or Ms Pensabene's actions breached public trust through dishonest or disreputable practices. Nassif is scheduled to continue giving evidence on Tuesday, while Maheswaran is set to appear on Friday.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}