Source : Perth Now news
The man at the centre of one of Operation Rosny’s biggest dramas has finally taken the witness box, with fugitive developer Jean Nassif beginning evidence from Lebanon in a closely watched appearance before the NSW corruption inquiry.
Beaming in by video link from his bedroom in Beirut at about 7am local time, Mr Nassif told the commission he wanted to give evidence under oath and was ready to answer whatever was put to him.
“I’m going to speak my heart, I’m going to say exactly what happened with me … I’m willing to answer any questions,” Mr Nassif said.
The inquiry is examining whether unlawful political donations were channelled to Liberal Party figures — including Charles Perrottet, Christian Ellis and Jeremy Greenwood for membership recruitment — and whether Mr Nassif sought political help in return, including the removal of then building commissioner David Chandler and Baulkham Hills MP David Elliott from his path.
The commission has made clear these are allegations only and no findings have been made against Mr Nassif.
At the heart of the case are claims that donations were made by or on behalf of Mr Nassif and his company Toplace, despite developers being barred from donating in NSW, and that those payments were tied to efforts to reshape political fortunes and blunt scrutiny of his projects.
Toplace, founded by Mr Nassif after he arrived in Australia in 1989, grew into a major Sydney development business known for large apartment and mixed-use projects.
But the company later ran into deep trouble over defect complaints, the loss of its building licence and its eventual collapse into voluntary administration.
Counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer SC took Mr Nassif through some of that history, including litigation brought by a body corporate in 2018.
Mr Nassif pushed back, insisting Toplace maintained a around-the-clock repairs operation and fixed defects when needed.
The hearing then turned to former minister David Elliott, whose constituents had complained about defects in Toplace developments.
“I don’t really notice what he says, he is a racist person he is a corrupt politician,” Mr Nassif told the inquiry.
Mr Elliott is not accused of any wrongdoing.
Mr Nassif also gave his account of how he first became connected to political operatives Mr Greenwood and Mr Ellis.
He told ICAC he had been venting to former prime minister Tony Abbott about figures in the Liberal Party’s centre-right faction who he believed had treated him badly.
“I was complaining to Mr Abbott about my problems with the centre-right, with Alex Hawke, Ray Williams, David Elliott, Victor Dominello, Kevin Anderson,” Mr Nassif said.
At the same function, Mr Nassif told the inquiry, Liberal figure JP Abood pointed him towards Mr Greenwood and Mr Ellis.
According to Mr Nassif, Abood told him: “They might take over the Hills soon, so talk to them and see if they can help you.”
From there, Mr Nassif described his first meetings with “the boys”, his term for Mr Greenwood and Mr Ellis.
He told the commission they had offered to help “ease off the media attack” against him and counter what he described as “Ray Hadley lying and talking bulls**t without evidence”.
He also claimed Charles Perrottet was not mentioned at the first meeting and only appeared at a second one.
Mr Nassif insisted he did not know the Perrottet family before that. He told the inquiry Mr Perrottet was initially brought along so he could be introduced to another developer, but the pair later became friends.
Mr Nassif alleged Mr Perrottet would then contact him seeking payments for associates at Beckington and indicate that “the boys needed it for recruitment and for Liberal activities”.
Mr Nassif was questioned about a 2021 message from Mr Perrottet referring to a “strategy” that included ways politicians could be lobbied for Toplace.
Mr Perrottet previously gave evidence that many of his political promises and pieces of advice to Mr Nassif were lies designed to encourage him to keep paying Beckington.
Asked by Ms Dwyer whether he knew Mr Perrottet was lying to him, Mr Nassif replied: “I knew that they were doing something like that. Yes.”
Ms Dwyer also asked Mr Nassif at one point whether he was reading from a document after he gave some answers while looking down.
“No, I don’t have any document because … the police raided my home, my offices, and took all the evidence,” Mr Nassif said.
Mr Nassif alleged Mr Perrottet sought payments for associates at Beckington, which he understood were tied to recruitment, Liberal activities and lobbying help for Toplace.
He told the commission he felt pressure to keep paying. Mr Nassif said if he refused he feared he would damage that friendship with Mr Perrottet.
ICAC is examining allegations involving Mr Perrottet, but no findings have been made.
The inquiry continues.
