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ICAC Operation Rosny LIVE updates: Former Toplace lawyer, Strathfield councillor Sharangan Maheswaran to continue evidence

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Cite

McSweeney, J. (2026, September 22). ICAC Operation Rosny LIVE updates: Former Toplace lawyer, Strathfield councillor Sharangan Maheswaran to continue evidence. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/icac-operation-rosny-live-updates-former-toplace-lawyer-strathfield-councillor-sharangan-maheswaran-to-continue-evidence-20260923-p60zoo.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

The Sydney Morning Herald · collected 2026-09-22 · by Jessica McSweeney

Quick Summary

A private investigator named Shane De Kauwe testified before the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Tuesday about his surveillance activities targeting former Strathfield mayor Matthew Blackmore. De Kauwe described covert recordings made at Deli Fresh cafe in December 2022 and surveillance outside a block of flats, which were part of an investigation hired by former councillor Sharangan Maheswaran. The evidence aims to support allegations that Maheswaran may have engaged in blackmail and breaches of the Surveillance Devices Act against Blackmore.
Written by AI on 2026-09-23, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

On Tuesday, private investigator Shane De Kauwe testified at the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in Sydney. During his testimony, De Kauwe revealed details from a covert surveillance operation targeting former Strathfield mayor Matthew Blackmore. The investigation included recordings of conversations like "eggs on toast" and "a regular soy cap" made while Blackmore was at Deli Fresh cafe in December 2022. De Kauwe used recording devices disguised as pens and cameras placed outside a block of flats. These actions have led to allegations that Strathfield councillor Sharangan Maheswaran potentially breached the Surveillance Devices Act by hiring De Kauwe for illegal surveillance activities against Blackmore.

Written for “ICAC Operation Rosny Investigation” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 ICAC Operation Rosny Investigation
Crime & Law · 1 article(s) covering the same event.

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 25% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
ICAC Operation Rosny LIVE updates: Former Strathfield councillor, Toplace lawyer Sharangan Maheswaran to give evidence Different event
The Sydney Morning Herald
Hedges 0 of 7 claims Outlet record 61/100
“The articles describe different parts of a larger ongoing investigation; one focuses on Sharangan Maheswaran's presence near another witness, while the other discusses evidence given by a private investigator.”
ICAC Operation Rosny as it happened: Former Toplace lawyer Sharangan Maheswaran denies weaponising Jean Nassif extortion claims Different event
The Sydney Morning Herald
Hedges 2 of 15 claims Outlet record 61/100
“The articles describe different days and aspects of the ICAC Operation Rosny hearings involving Sharangan Maheswaran, with Article A focusing on Shane De Kauwe's testimony about surveillance and Article B summarizing the ongoing proceedings where Maheswaran denies weaponizing Jean Nassif’s claims.”
Private investigator surveilled Liberal minister and supplied Jean Nassif with recording devices, Icac hears Different event
The Guardian
Hedges 2 of 34 claims Outlet record 66/100
“The articles describe different aspects of Shane De Kauwe's testimony at ICAC but focus on distinct surveillance operations involving different individuals.”
ICAC Operation Rosny LIVE updates: Former AFP officer, private investigator Shane De Kauwe to give evidence Different event
The Sydney Morning Herald
Hedges 0 of 6 claims Outlet record 61/100
“The articles describe different parts of the ICAC Operation Rosny, involving evidence from different witnesses on different dates.”
Belligerence, blackmail and a Bangladeshi chatbot: What we learnt from ICAC week eight Different event
The Sydney Morning Herald
Hedges 8 of 36 claims Outlet record 61/100
“The articles describe different aspects of the ICAC inquiry; Article A covers Jean Nassif's appearance and claims, while Article B focuses on a private investigator's evidence regarding potential blackmail allegations.”
Biggest idiot, grubbiest behaviour, best phone tap: The Operation Rosny Awards Different event
The Sydney Morning Herald
Hedges 7 of 85 claims Outlet record 61/100
“Article A describes a specific day of evidence given at ICAC regarding surveillance activities targeting Matthew Blackmore, while Article B provides an overview and conclusion of the entire Operation Rosny inquiry, which includes multiple events and allegations.”
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
4
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
25%
1 of 4 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
61/100
The Sydney Morning Herald's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
1
Crime & Law
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-09-23 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

The Sydney Morning Herald · 5731 article(s) · 15 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 15 correction(s)
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Who wrote this

Jessica McSweeney
25 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
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🔮 A private investigator invoiced Jean Nassif’s development company $134,000 for surveillance of the former Strathfield mayor, with then-Labor councillor Sharangan Maheswaran convincing Toplace to pay the bill.
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Also by Jessica McSweeney
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Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 25 articles by Jessica McSweeney →

Topics

Deli Fresh Homebush Strathfield the Independent Commission Against Corruption the Surveillance Devices Act

Subjects

Deli Fresh ORG · 2× Strathfield GPE · 2× De Kauwe PERSON · 1× Homebush GPE · 1× Matthew Blackmore PERSON · 1× Shane De Kauwe PERSON · 1× Sharangan Maheswaran PERSON · 1× the Independent Commission Against Corruption ORG · 1×

Narrative

Recording devices disguised as pens and cameras placed outside a block of flats were just some of the colourful details of the evidence given by private eye Shane De Kauwe at the Independent Commission Against Corruption on Tuesday.
framing: mixed · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-23
🔮 “Eggs on toast” and “a regular soy cap” were among the few audible things a private investigator secretly recorded while on a covert operation targeting the then-mayor of Strathfield at Deli Fresh cafe in December 2022.
2026-09-23 · The Sydney Morning Herald
ICAC Operation Rosny LIVE updates: Former Toplace lawyer, Strathfield councillor Sharangan Maheswaran to continue evidence · mixed framing

Claims (4 extracted, 1 hedged)

“Eggs on toast” and “a regular soy cap” were among the few audible things a private investigator secretly recorded while on a covert operation targeting the then-mayor of Strathfield at Deli Fresh cafe in December 2022. asserted
investigator → record → December
Recording devices disguised as pens and cameras placed outside a block of flats were just some of the colourful details of the evidence given by private eye Shane De Kauwe at the Independent Commission Against Corruption on Tuesday. asserted
devices → record → Tuesday
His months of surveillance of mayor Matthew Blackmore have formed an allegation of potential blackmail and breaches of the Surveillance Devices Act levelled at former Strathfield councillor Sharangan Maheswaran, who hired De Kauwe. asserted
who → form → Kauwe
According to the blurb promoting the Homebush cafe Deli Fresh, “the hum of casual chatter mixes gently with the soft clinks of cups and plates … it’s a spot that embraces the small, genuine moments.” uncertain
that → accord → moments
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