Source : the age
Jean Nassif’s questioning has wrapped and the corruption inquiry has adjourned for the day.
Nassif dialled into Tuesday’s ICAC public hearing determined to make the commission listen to his side of the story, making wild claims about the “deep state” and corrupt politicians, and insisting he never paid for political favours.
In his chaotic and at times aggressive appearance, Nassif at times ignored Peggy Dwyer, SC’s questions to instead attack his enemies including David Elliott and David Chandler.
When the ICAC returns tomorrow morning, lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood will return to the witness box for further questioning. Until then, let’s take a look at what we covered today:
- Jean Nassif launched into an angry tirade against David Elliott, David Chandler, and the ICAC itself, ranting about the “deep state” and calling the corruption inquiry a “waste of time” for not pursuing his enemies.
- Nassif defended his daughter Ashlyn after she was last week sentenced for her part falsifying documents to secure a $150 million loan for Toplace. Her father spectacularly claimed she was forced to plead guilty by police because of their “dirty minds”. He vowed to bring an international case against the government and would return to Australia when he had cleared his name.
- Nassif insisted he was not corrupt, and told the public inquiry that any political work done by Jeremy Greenwood and Christian Ellis with his money did not involve him. He also said that he was led to believe “the boys” would help get David Chandler off his back.
- The fugitive developer told the ICAC that he did not leave Australia in December 2022 to dodge a parliamentary inquiry, but instead travelled to receive an award for “number one businessman from Arabic background around the world”.
- Nassif furiously declared “no one can make me shut up” when asked by assistant commissioner Fabian Gleeson, SC, to answer the ICAC’s questions instead of his lengthy tirade. As Nassif appeared voluntarily from overseas, Gleeson did not have the same powers to intervene during the questioning. Nassif repeatedly threatened to pull out of his appearance and accused the ICAC of wanting Australia to be “ruled by crooks”.
Jean Nassif has defended his daughter Ashlyn, who last week was sentenced after pleading guilty in a Sydney court to falsifying documents to secure a $150 million loan for Toplace.
Nassif accused the police of forcing his daughter to plead guilty.
“They’re corruptly damaged a 22-years-old, young, smart, beautiful, hard-working, honest girl, because of their dirty mind and corrupting, they forced her, my daughter has been forced to plead guilty,” Nassif said of his daughter, who is 32.
Nassif sensationally claimed he would return to Australia to defend his daughter and “make sure they all go to prison for what they did to my family”.
Nassif said he would only come back to Australia when he can engage lawyers to “fight the establishment”, and wanted to sue the government.
“When that court case finished, I’ll be back in Australia. I’m not gonna go back to Australia to be killed by the mafia boys.”
Peggy Dwyer, SC, has continued to ask if Jean Nassif believed he was paying Liberal Party figures for political outcomes.
“Please behave,” Nassif told Dwyer.
“I worked for 35 years in the country. I’m an honorable, honorable man.”
Jean Nassif denies leaving Australia in December 2022 to avoid being called to a NSW Parliament inquiry into illegal donations in the Hills, instead claiming he left to receive an award.
“I’m not scared to give evidence at all … 22 December, 2022, I received international award for number one businessman from Arabic background around the world,” Nassif said.
“I received that award, that’s why I left.”
Nassif said he was too busy to participate in the parliamentary inquiry which he believed was corrupt. He stayed overseas because he was being threatened.
“I stayed overseas because I received threatening killing messages by the dozens … if I go back, I’ll be killed,” Nassif said.
Jean Nassif has repeatedly insisted he wasn’t interested in Dominic Perrottet becoming premier and wanted to get along with all factions of the Liberal Party.
He said he had never heard of the Perrottet family until “the boys” at Beckington introduced him to Charles Perrottet. He has denied paying for political influence, instead telling the commission that he was paying Beckington to support his developments.
Peggy Dwyer, SC, then read Nassif a transcript of an intercepted phone call conversation he had with an associate.
“The premier is my best friend, if you have any issues anywhere now, they’re my friends and my boys. I’ve got my hand on the state government, and you’re going to see changes,” Nassif said after Dominic Perrottet became premier.
Jean Nassif has said his payments to Beckington may have been used by them for a political agenda, but he insists he simply wanted consultants to help get his developments through and stop the media scrutinising him.
“I was going crazy, I lost my mind, the attack and the harassment in the media on a daily basis,” Nassif said.
Peggy Dwyer, SC, asked Nassif if his claims about an extortion attempt by David Chandler was made up to smear the former building commissioner.
“You must be joking aren’t you?” Nassif retorted.
Peggy Dwyer, SC, has asked Jean Nassif about his claims that (then) building commissioner David Chandler was extorting him for money.
That allegation has not been proven, and Chandler is not accused of any wrongdoing.
Nassif said a number of men had confronted him on Chandler’s behalf to pressure him to pay, and Dwyer asked if Nassif would email those names to the ICAC.
“I’m not going to email anything to the commission because I can see we are not going anywhere in this investigation,” Nassif retorted.
Assistant commissioner Fabian Gleeson, SC, has attempted to calm Nassif down to no avail as the fugitive property developer continues to furiously attack his enemies and the ICAC.
Peggy Dwyer, SC, had asked Nassif if he was reading from a written statement that he would like to submit, to allow him to get his point across. Nassif angrily showed his notebook and insisted he was just taking his own notes.
“So stop f—ing putting words … in in my mouth. This is a public hearing, and I know what you’re doing, you want to show the public that I am corrupt – I’m not corrupt,” Nassif said.
“You want the country to be ruled by crooks … I am a man of honour.”
A furious Jean Nassif has refused to allow Peggy Dwyer, SC, to ask her questions and has instead launched into an explosive rant, attacking his enemies and the ICAC itself.
Dwyer was attempting to ask Nassif about a dinner he had with Charles Perrottet at Nobu in Melbourne, but Nassif instead wanted to talk about his anger with MP David Elliott and former building commissioner David Chandler.
“Mr Nassif please try and stay calm,” Dwyer implored as Nassif repeatedly accused Elliott and Chandler of corruption.
Nassif again insisted he was the victim of corrupt politicians.
“I want to prove my point, full stop. If you don’t want to allow me to, full stop, I withdraw from all this nonsense,” Nassif said.
Dwyer asked Nassif: “Please don’t shout at me.”
Jean Nassif has accused the ICAC of not wanting to hear the truth, accusing Peggy Dwyer, SC, of going around in circles in an angry outburst.
Dwyer was reading Nassif text messages between Jeremy Greenwood and Christian Ellis, which appeared to frustrate Nassif who is insisting he was not involved in any corrupt conduct. Nassif tried to keep talking as Dwyer attempted to steer Nassif back to her specific questions.
“I don’t want to talk over the top of you. I’ll finish talking and then I’ll wait for you,” Dwyer said.
“You’ve been talking on top of me all the time because you don’t want me to relay the truth fully,” Nassif retorted.
