A private investigator did not believe the then building commissioner was behind a $5 million extortion attempt on disgraced developer Jean Nassif but thought the claim needed to be reported to NSW Police.
uncertain
claim → believe → Police
Shane De Kauwe told a corruption inquiry on Tuesday he provided a recording device to Nassif’s lawyer Sharangan Maheswaran which was used by the developer to record a conversation with two men who allegedly alluded to an extortion attempt by building commissioner David Chandler.
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who → tell → Chandler
The Independent Commission Against Corruption heard that De Kauwe told Nassif and Maheswaran the allegations needed to be reported to police, but Nassif did not want to make a complaint.
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Nassif → hear → complaint
The private investigator instead called a friend in the police force and made his own complaint.
“I didn’t believe it was the commissioner, I believe that these guys were using Jean, you know, Jean being Jean, trying to get money out of Jean,” De Kauwe said.
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Kauwe → call → Jean
Chandler is not accused of any wrongdoing.
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Chandler → accuse → wrongdoing
Counsel assisting Juliet Curtin also asked De Kauwe about investigating David Elliott, the Liberal MP who was police minister in the then Coalition government.
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who → assist → government
Curtin asked: “What did you understand his [Maheswaran’s] connection or interest to be in Mr Elliott at that point in time?”
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you → ask → time
“He didn’t like him,” De Kauwe said.
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Kauwe → like → him
He told the commission he believed he was doing surveillance on Elliott for Maheswaran personally.
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he → tell → Maheswaran
That investigation included looking into Elliott’s social media posts and a few days of surveillance.
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investigation → include → surveillance
De Kauwe said he knew Maheswaran worked at Toplace, and at some point his work became significant enough that he began to think of Maheswaran as Nassif’s right-hand man.
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he → say → man
De Kauwe earlier told the commission he provided covert listening devices – including a secret recording pen – to Maheswaran as well as Liberal apparatchik Jeremy Greenwood, who had a government relations contract with Toplace.
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who → tell → Toplace
The investigator said he had a few different listening devices, including devices that look like a pen or a “small square” that resembles a type of tag you would keep on a keychain.
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you → say → keychain
He told the commission calling them “covert” devices was generous; they were gadgets available to buy on Amazon.
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they → tell → Amazon
The private investigator was asked what information he would give clients about the legality of making covert recordings.
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he → ask → recordings
“If you’re a party to a conversation and you think that person may make an allegation about you, you can covertly record them, however, it may or may not be admissible,” De Kauwe said.
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Kauwe → ’re → them
The commission heard De Kauwe is friends with Hornsby councillor Verity Greenwood, who introduced him to her son Jeremy around 2019.
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who → hear → 2019
De Kauwe said while he was paid by Toplace, he would sometimes receive instructions from Greenwood.
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he → say → Greenwood
Greenwood also introduced De Kauwe to former Labor councillor and Toplace lawyer Sharangan Maheswaran as somebody who potentially needed an investigator.
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who → introduce → investigator
De Kauwe described Maheswaran as one of his best friends, whom he speaks with regularly.
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he → describe → whom
He told the commission when he was working for Maheswaran, Maheswaran sought out legal advice on De Kauwe’s behalf.
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Maheswaran → tell → behalf
Counsel assisting Juliet Curtin asked De Kauwe if he ever perceived a potential conflict there.
“I trust him implicitly, I wouldn’t consider it a conflict,” De Kauwe said.
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Kauwe → assist → him
Sydney’s best coverage of the ICAC inquiry
- News: Jeremy Greenwood, Christian Ellis listed as Toplace creditors
- Sweat, swears and smears: Deconstructing Jean Nassif’s explosive ICAC tirade
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Greenwood → list → tirade
Analysis: Beyond Jean Nassif, the murky dealings of Strathfield Council are aired at the long-running inquiry, writes Kate McClymont
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McClymont → air → inquiry
The Aporia
