Key facts
- Former Labor councillor Sharangan Maheswaran denied a message from lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood about "killing Elliott" was related to political work for developer Jean Nassif.
- Maheswaran stated he had a common interest with Greenwood concerning the Liberal party's Hawke faction.
- Icac is investigating alleged breaches of public trust and potential breaches of the Surveillance Devices Act by Maheswaran and Karen Pensabene.
- The inquiry is examining if Liberal figures were to receive prohibited donations from Nassif for political outcomes, including harming David Elliott's career.
- Maheswaran was a lawyer for and later an executive at Jean Nassif's company, Toplace.
A former Labor councillor has denied that a message he received from a lobbyist, claiming "We have something that will kill Elliott," was connected to political work for a fugitive property developer. Sharangan Maheswaran testified before the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) on Friday, stating the message from lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood did not relate to work by Greenwood’s company Beckington for Jean Nassif.
Icac is investigating whether Maheswaran and fellow Labor Strathfield councillor Karen Pensabene engaged in conduct that involved the dishonest or partial exercise of their official functions, or a breach of public trust, potentially including blackmail and breaches of the Surveillance Devices Act. Maheswaran has denied any wrongdoing.
Maheswaran, who is no longer a councillor, served as a lawyer for property developer Nassif and became an executive at his company, Toplace, in September 2020. He has also denied wrongdoing in relation to a separate allegation under investigation by Icac.
The inquiry is examining whether Liberal figures Greenwood, Charles Perrottet, and Christian Ellis anticipated receiving $2m in prohibited donations from Nassif in exchange for political outcomes, including damage to the career of former NSW Liberal minister David Elliott. Greenwood, Perrottet, and Nassif have denied that Nassif paid for political outcomes.
During questioning, Maheswaran acknowledged a common interest with Greenwood regarding the Hawke faction of the Liberal party but rejected the suggestion that the messages related to Beckington's work for Nassif. He also clarified his role as the sole shareholder and employee of Anwalt Pty Ltd, a company through which he was subcontracted to do work for Toplace via Ashlyn Nassif and Evelyn Helou’s law firm EA Legal.