Source : the age
The balconies have cracks visible from the street. The tank meant to supply the extensive fire sprinkler system cannot hold water without leaking. And the lifts, along with the glass front doors, have a habit of getting stuck.
But at Riviera, a six-building apartment complex on the edge of the Parramatta River, what is most burnt into the minds of some current and former residents are the German cockroaches: the ones that live exclusively indoors, are a fraction of the size of regular species and breed at extraordinary rates. They made themselves so at home they destroyed the electronics of dishwashers and air-conditioning units.
Welcome to Jean Nassif’s Parramatta apartment block.
During his blustery, foul-mouthed appearance at the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption last week, the disgraced fugitive developer made reference to the blocks his since-liquidated company Toplace built in 2018 – when owners launched legal action over defects.
Today the ICAC will question former AFP officer and private investigator Shane De Kauwe about his work for Sharangan Maheswaran allegedly paid for by Toplace.
The ICAC has previously heard evidence that De Kauwe was directed to surveil Baulkham Hills MP David Elliott, and gathered photographs that Liberal figures wanted to use to pursue a false allegation that Elliott was having an affair.
The private investigator was also engaged to follow Matthew Blackmore, the former Strathfield mayor, at the direction of Maheswaran, the ICAC has previously heard.
Counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer, SC, said in her opening address that she expects evidence to show De Kauwe was engaged to follow and secretly record Blackmore for several months, at a cost of $134,000 paid by Toplace.
The inquiry also heard during Jeremy Greenwood’s time in the witness box that the government relations consultant texted Maheswaran asking: “can I get Shane to wire me for sound tomorrow and you guys pick up the bill?”
Maheswaran replied that Shane could get him equipment. Greenwood said it was just a “silly comment” and denied ever illegally recording anyone.
Hello and welcome to another day of public hearings in the ICAC’s Operation Rosny inquiry.
I’m state political reporter Jessica McSweeney, and I’ll be bringing you all the latest news as it happens in the commission. Today private investigator Shane De Kauwe will be sworn in and asked about his surveillance work allegedly paid for by Toplace.
Before then, here’s a recap of what we covered yesterday:
- A phone tap between Toplace lawyer Sharangan Maheswaran and Jean Nassif revealed the developer was relying on Liberal powerbrokers Charles Perrottet and Michael Photios to sort out his concerns with the state’s building commissioner, David Chandler.
- Sharangan Maheswaran says the so-called Beckington boys – Jeremy Greenwood and Christian Ellis– as well as Charles Perrottet were playing “silly games” to force developer Jean Nassif to pay them.
- A $2 million deal between Jean Nassif and Beckington was documented on a manila-coloured Post-it note, not a pink piece of paper, which was later stored in Nassif’s safe in his former Chiswick home.
- Sharangan Maheswaran, then an ALP member, was concerned about being publicly listed as having attended a Liberal Party fundraiser for Hawkesbury MP Robyn Preston, insisting it could be “weaponised” against him in an election campaign.
- Jean Nassif had been “excited” about an invitation to a Liberal Party fundraiser but Sharangan Maheswaran had advised him not to attend because property developers are banned donors in NSW.
