Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. TOTOTO Even before the explosive corruption investigation began, former Strathfield Labor councilor Sharangan Maheswaran launched pre-emptive legal action against his political nemesis and former independent mayor Matthew Blackmore. Maheswaran, a lawyer and former ALP member who
Even before the explosive corruption investigation began, former Strathfield Labor councilor Sharangan Maheswaran launched pre-emptive legal action against his political nemesis and former independent mayor Matthew Blackmore.
Maheswaran, a lawyer and former ALP member who at various stages had considered a political career in state or federal parliament, accused Blackmore of spreading rumors about him fueled by malice. He is prosecuted for prejudicial falsehood.
Those alleged rumors will feature in the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s successful investigation, code-named Operation Rosny, in which Maheswaran, along with his Labor colleague, Strathfield councilor Karen Pensabene, face accusations of trying to blackmail Blackmore.
In January 2023, Blackmore, then mayor of Strathfield, took notes of an extraordinary meeting with Maheswaran, who told him that for the past five months he had been followed by a private investigator secretly recording meetings in cafes and pubs.
Blackmore told colleagues that Pensabene was also present at this meeting, where Maheswaran said he needed to resign as mayor. If he did not comply, Maheswaran threatened to release material to the media that would make the mayor look bad.
Maheswaran does not deny that he did, in fact, hire an investigator to follow Blackmore. The surveillance firm the lawyer turned to was Elite Risk Services, run by former Australian Federal Police officer Shane de Kauwe.
“I hired ERS to conduct an investigation of Mr. Blackmore after I was informed of multiple threats by Mr. Blackmore against me,” Maheswaran told the Herald.
“The evidence returned by ERS belongs to the NSW ICAC and it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.”
A close associate of Blackmore, with knowledge of the matters, said Maheswaran’s claims were a fabrication.
De Kauwe worked for many years for fugitive real estate developer Jean Nassif. Nassif’s introduction was made through Toplace lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood, a mutual friend of Maheswaran and De Kauwe. Toplace was Nassif’s construction company.
Greenwood and his former business partner, Christian Ellis, face allegations they were involved in stacking Liberal Party branches, allegedly at the behest of Nassif.
A source, who asked not to be named, said De Kauwe had also surveilled the then police minister, David Elliott, but only for four days.
Nassif had received information that Elliott had been having an affair. However, after a brief surveillance of Elliott, the private investigator reported that there had been no affair and that Elliott simply did his job and returned home.
“My life is a damn open book,” Elliot told the Herald.
The former Liberal minister, who had previously been threatened by Nassif over the phone, said he became aware of the false information being circulated. “I kept getting messages saying that he [Nassif] It’s behind you,” Elliott said.
The ICAC investigation will examine Nassif’s attempts to damage the career of Elliott, who was vocally opposed to Nassif’s developments in his electorate, as well as the developer’s efforts to remove then-building commissioner David Chandler, whose team had issued stop-work orders against Nassif until the defects were fixed.
Nassif, who employed several private investigators, is understood to have used someone other than De Kauwe to surveil Chandler.
De Kauwe, 60, was reluctant to comment on these matters due to the upcoming ICAC investigation.
“All of these dire accusations are simply not true,” he said. “Both sides of politics use me because I play with a straight bat.”
Maheswaran said Blackmore’s allegations to the corruption watchdog were defamatory.
“There is ample evidence that Mr. Blackmore’s accusation is a fabrication and driven by malice,” Maheswaran said.
Asked about the legal action against Blackmore, Maheswaran said: “It would be inappropriate for me to comment on a matter that will soon come to court.
“Mr. Blackmore has engaged in a malicious whispering campaign against me inspired by pure malice to which there are numerous witnesses. I have no choice but to take this to a court of law.”
Blackmore declined to comment. “It is before the ICAC and I trust that the ICAC will investigate the matter thoroughly,” he said.
Maheswaran and Pensabene, who replaced Blackmore as mayor, had their ALP membership suspended.
In addition to his bitter battle with Blackmore, Maheswaran has links to Nassif and was close to several of the powerful Liberals who allegedly did Nassif’s bidding by grouping branches into the Hills Shire Council to install people who would be more willing to approve Nassif’s questionable developments.
Those allegations will also be investigated when Operation Rosny begins public hearings on July 27.
Nassif boarded a flight to Dubai on December 9, 2022 and never returned. The week before he left, Nassif and his company had their construction license withdrawn. Within months, Nassif’s empire had collapsed with debts of more than $1.6 billion.
There is an arrest warrant for Nassif.
In February 2023, search warrants were executed at Nassif’s home and office. Two days later, Maheswaran’s mobile phone and laptop were seized when the councilor arrived on a flight from Singapore.
At the time, Maheswaran confirmed that Nassif had been a client “over the years” and had provided legal advice on various matters. He also said Toplace had never had any projects in Strathfield.
The ICAC investigation will also look into Nassif’s alleged collusion with powerful far-right Liberals Christian Ellis and Charles and Jean-Claude Perrottet, brothers of then-Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet.
Nassif is alleged to have funded the branch with powerful political agents to install local councilors who allegedly favored the developer’s interests in Sydney.
Another central allegation the corruption watchdog will explore is the involvement of powerful right-wing Liberal Dallas McInerney, who last week stood aside from his role as chief executive of Catholic Schools NSW.
McInerney, 53, is alleged to have “organised and approved” political donations from NSW Catholic Schools to recruit members for the party.
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Alexandra Smith is a senior writer and former state political editor for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect through X either email.From our partners
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