Claims extracted
15
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
0%
0 of 15 hedged
("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
67/100
ABC News (AU)'s corrections and
hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
2
Politics
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
ICAC hears developer Toplace paid a $134,000 bill for surveillance of former Strathfield mayor Matthew Blackmore.
asserted
Toplace → hear → Blackmore
Toplace lawyer and Strathfield councillor Sharangan Maheswaran says he persuaded his employer to subside the cost as he was owed money.
asserted
he → say → money
The evidence has emerged as Operation Rosny draws to a close
The NSW corruption watchdog has heard developer Toplace paid a private investigator $134,000 to surveil a former Strathfield mayor, despite the covert operation being described as a "personal matter" for company lawyer and Labor councillor Sharangan Maheswaran.
On Tuesday, Mr Maheswaran returned to the witness box as the corruption watchdog entered what was expected to be the final day of hearings in Operation Rosny.
asserted
what → emerge → Rosny
The inquiry is examining allegations that Mr Maheswaran and fellow Labor councillor Karen Pensabene engaged in blackmail while attempting to oust Matthew Blackmore as mayor and install Ms Pensabene in the role.
asserted
Maheswaran → examine → role
Mr Maheswaran told the ICAC he persuaded his employer to subsidise the surveillance bill because it had "tangential" links to the developer, and he was owed money by another firm linked to Toplace founder Jean Nassif.
asserted
he → tell → Nassif
In evidence on Tuesday, the ICAC also heard private investigator Shane De Kauwe provided Mr Maheswaran with a range of covert surveillance devices, including a recording pen.
asserted
Kauwe → hear → pen
Text messages tendered to the inquiry show Mr Maheswaran telling a friend: "You should see my spy equipment one day."
Mr Maheswaran joked with Ms Pensabene about the surveillance, referencing Sting's song Every Breath You Take, the ICAC heard.
asserted
ICAC → tender → song
"The next line of that song, as we all know, is 'I'll be watching you'," counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer SC said.
asserted
counsel → know → you
The private investigator spent months secretly monitoring Mr Blackmore in 2022 and 2023, including photographing him and recording conversations at a local cafe.
asserted
investigator → spend → cafe
In one exchange, the private eye told Mr Maheswaran he followed Mr Blackmore to Strathfield council library and "was listening for 20 hours plus…
asserted
he → tell → hours
I must have fallen asleep for a time".
asserted
I → fall → time
Mr Maheswaran denied he was provided with every recording and told the ICAC he sought legal advice on the surveillance.
asserted
he → deny → surveillance
The inquiry heard last week that Mr Nassif asked Mr De Kauwe to look into broadcaster Ray Hadley and former Liberal minister David Elliott.
asserted
Nassif → hear → Hadley
Operation Rosny entered its final day on Tuesday, wrapping up two months of hearings into allegations of political influence, secret payments and efforts to target opponents.
asserted
Rosny → enter → opponents
The inquiry has examined allegations that prohibited political donations were funnelled through third parties to support a right-wing Liberal faction known as the NSW Reformers and advance the interests of Mr Nassif.
asserted
donations → examine → Nassif
The Aporia
