Labor councillor feared ICAC summons over Liberal fundraiser appearance
A Labor councillor feared his 2021 visit to a Liberal fundraiser would force him to answer questions at an ICAC hearing.
At an ICAC hearing, Labor councillor Sharangan Maheswaran's fears came out. He attended a 2021 Liberal fundraiser and worried it might force him to give evidence to NSW's anti-corruption watchdog, ICAC.
An MP gave a speech that sent allegations to ICAC. After this, Maheswaran texted: "Oh shit, did he touch on me?"
He asked to remove his name from the fundraiser invoice. He wanted his company name on it instead.
ICAC is checking if three Liberal workers got $2 million in illegal money from developer Jean Nassif for political favors. Maheswaran had worked as Nassif's lawyer.
He later became head of Nassif's company Toplace. He told another councillor the fundraiser looked bad.
- 2 million dollars
- Alleged illegal donations
- April 2021
- Fundraiser date
- June 2022
- Allegations referred to ICAC
- Ellis, Greenwood, Perrottet
- Three Liberal operatives under
Why it mattersThe case tests if money bought political favors, a key corruption risk. The texts show attempts to hide payment details, raising questions about what people were trying to hide.
AustraliaThis ICAC inquiry is unfolding in NSW and directly concerns NSW Liberal Party fundraising practices and political donations in Australia.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 3 d ago
