Key facts
- Liberal operative Jeremy Greenwood denied fabricating a "pink" note detailing a potential $5 million agreement with developer Jean Nassif.
- The note was not mentioned in Greenwood's preliminary interview with the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac).
- Icac is investigating claims that Greenwood, Charles Perrottet, and Christian Ellis received $2 million from Nassif for political outcomes.
- Greenwood stated he had a verbal agreement with Toplace executive Sharangan Maheswaran for legal costs, paying him $30,000.
- Maheswaran is a person of interest in a separate Icac allegation.
A Liberal operative, Jeremy Greenwood, has denied fabricating a "pink" or "fuchsia" note that he claims records an agreement with fugitive developer Jean Nassif for up to $5 million. Greenwood testified before the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) on Wednesday, stating the note was not a "recent invention," despite him not mentioning it in a preliminary interview with the watchdog.
Icac is investigating allegations that Greenwood, Charles Perrottet (brother of former premier Dominic Perrottet), and Christian Ellis received a combined $2 million in payments from Nassif between 2020 and 2023 in exchange for political outcomes. Greenwood and Charles Perrottet have denied any wrongdoing.
Earlier in the week, Greenwood told the commission about a verbal agreement where his lobbying company, Beckington, controlled by him and Ellis, would receive $1 million for each of up to five Toplace projects if they could be fast-tracked. He described the only written record of this agreement as a folded "fuchsia" or "purple-pink" note once stored in a phone case.
During cross-examination, counsel assisting Icac, Peggy Dwyer SC, suggested Greenwood had invented the note to explain the arrangement, a suggestion Greenwood rejected. Dwyer also questioned Greenwood about his arrangement with Toplace executive Sharangan Maheswaran, who acted as his solicitor. Greenwood admitted paying Maheswaran $30,000 under a verbal agreement for costs, stating "If I worked him hard, I’d give him some money." Dwyer highlighted the conflict of interest in Maheswaran advising Greenwood while Toplace was challenging payments to Greenwood's company.
Maheswaran, named as a person of interest in a separate Icac allegation, is expected to testify later in the week. Jean Nassif is scheduled to appear via video link from Lebanon.