$134,000 spy bill under spotlight on ICAC inquiry's final day - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Sharangan Maheswaran returned to the ICAC witness box on Tuesday for the final day of hearings. (ABC News)
ICAC hears developer Toplace paid a $134,000 bill for surveillance of former Strathfield mayor Matthew Blackmore.
Toplace lawyer and Strathfield councillor Sharangan Maheswaran says he persuaded his employer to subside the cost as he was owed money.
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 Tuesday, Mr Maheswaran returned to the witness box as the corruption watchdog entered what was expected to be the final day of hearings in Operation Rosny.
The inquiry is examining allegations that Mr Maheswaran and fellow Labor councillor Karen Pensabene engaged in blackmail while attempting to oust Matthew Blackmore as mayor and install Ms Pensabene in the role.
Jean Nassif, who gave evidence to the ICAC earlier this month from Lebanon. (ABC News)
Mr Maheswaran told the ICAC he persuaded his employer to subsidise the surveillance bill because it had "tangential" links to the developer, and he was owed money by another firm linked to Toplace founder Jean Nassif.
In evidence on Tuesday, the ICAC also heard private investigator Shane De Kauwe provided Mr Maheswaran with a range of covert surveillance devices, including a recording pen.
Text messages tendered to the inquiry show Mr Maheswaran telling a friend: "You should see my spy equipment one day."
Mr Maheswaran joked with Ms Pensabene about the surveillance, referencing Sting's song Every Breath You Take, the ICAC heard.
Shane de Kauwe was allegedly invoiced $134,000 for surveillance of the Strathfield mayor. (ABC News: Patrick Thomas)
"The next line of that song, as we all know, is 'I'll be watching you'," counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer SC said.
The private investigator spent months secretly monitoring Mr Blackmore in 2022 and 2023, including photographing him and recording conversations at a local cafe.
In one exchange, the private eye told Mr Maheswaran he followed Mr Blackmore to Strathfield council library and "was listening for 20 hours plus… I must have fallen asleep for a time".
Mr Maheswaran denied he was provided with every recording and told the ICAC he sought legal advice on the surveillance.
The ICAC heard several ways Mr Maheswaran attempted to pressure Mr Blackmore to resign, after the Strathfield mayor reneged on a deal to step aside.
It heard he backgrounded three journalists attempting to have them run negative stories about Mr Blackmore, and printed 6,000 flyers with damaging information about him which were to be distributed throughout the council area.
"... He's spooked, clearly," texts tendered to the inquiry revealed.
Dr Dwyer asked him if he meant he was "spooked by the flyers".
"Not by the flyers per se, but my willingness to campaign against him," Mr Maheswaran said.
Another text Mr Maheswaran sent to Ms Pensabene said: "We want to menace Matthew."
"You're loving that conflict with Mr Blackmore, aren't you?" Dr Dwyer put to him.
"Yes absolutely. Being able to openly confront him about all the things he's been doing for the last 12 months, especially in relation to me," Mr Maheswaran said.
The inquiry heard last week that Mr Nassif asked Mr De Kauwe to look into broadcaster Ray Hadley and former Liberal minister David Elliott.
Operation Rosny entered its final day on Tuesday, wrapping up two months of hearings into allegations of political influence, secret payments and efforts to target opponents.
The inquiry has examined allegations that prohibited political donations were funnelled through third parties to support a right-wing Liberal faction known as the NSW Reformers and advance the interests of Mr Nassif.
