Tarot card readings, spy pens and eggs on toast: What we learnt from ICAC week nine

The ICAC plunged into the murky world of espionage this week as former Strathfield councillor and Toplace executive Sharangan Maheswaran endured four days in the witness box being questioned about alleged plots to smear the enemies of dodgy developer Jean Nassif.

Maheswaran’s only respite came on Tuesday when a private investigator, Shane De Kauwe, was brought in to discuss the various surveillance tactics deployed against Nassif’s foes.

But the surveillers were also under surveillance. Here is what we learnt in week nine.

Spy v spy

Jean Nassif tasked his “powerful buddy” and senior Liberal Party operative Charles Perrottet to help clear the way for a stalled apartment tower, according to phone taps played at the inquiry.

In the 2021 phone tap, a furious Nassif can be heard moaning about a decision by building commissioner David Chandler to place a “prohibition notice” over the developer’s Skyview apartment tower in Castle Hill.

“I’m speaking to f---ing Charles [Perrottet] and Michael Photios to try to stop it but he’s already issued it, the c---,” Nassif told his right-hand man, Toplace lawyer and Strathfield councillor Sharangan Maheswaran.

After fleeing Australia, Nassif also wanted private eye Shane De Kauwe to investigate his enemies, including broadcaster Ray Hadley, building commissioner David Chandler and MP David Elliott.

Asked why he thought Nassif wanted to keep pursuing Chandler even though Nassif’s company had already collapsed, De Kauwe said: “He hated him.”

The private eye

De Kauwe was paid by Nassif’s company Toplace to conduct surveillance, primarily on David Elliott and former Strathfield mayor Matthew Blackmore, at the direction of Maheswaran, the inquiry heard.

The private eye tailed a woman Maheswaran said was believed to have met Elliott in breach of COVID-19 restrictions, and installed a camera pointed at her unit complex driveway.

The inquiry also heard De Kauwe’s services were sought to help Greenwood and others avoid a summons to a 2023 NSW parliamentary inquiry.

In a text exchange around the time the NSW parliament inquiry was seeking him to give evidence, Greenwood texted “can we get security sorted”. Maheswaran replied: “No numpties, attentive ones.”

Q Branch

The inquiry has not done much to elevate the world of private security, with De Kauwe’s James Bond-like arsenal of secret gear producing little in the way of tangible results.

De Kauwe told the inquiry he provided covert listening devices to Toplace lawyer Maheswaran and ex-Liberal lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood, which may have included a secret recording pen device.

He said he has a few different listening devices, including ones that look like a pen or a “small square” that resembles a type of tag you would keep on your keychain.

He told the ICAC that calling them “covert” devices was generous, and they were simply things any person could buy on Amazon.

Counsel assisting Juliet Curtin, quoting transcripts of covertly recorded conversations featuring Blackmore at a cafe, suggested the conversations were largely inaudible, bar occasional mentions of “eggs on toast” or a “soy cap”.

‘I want to keep it highly secret’

Maheswaran’s plot to damage Chandler extended to him attempting to get NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey to question the then-building commissioner in parliament – but being foiled by Mookhey’s “duty” to report the claims to the ICAC.

Mookhey’s statement recounted Maheswaran telling him: “The building commissioner harassed his client by making additional inspections, incorrectly issuing defect notices, and making references to mediations during site visits, which their client interpreted as an allusion to the defamation proceedings.”

Mookhey told Maheswaran he would not use the information to question David Chandler at budget estimates as the lawyer wanted, but instead reported the matter to the ICAC.

Counsel assisting, Dr Peggy Dwyer, SC, also read out text messages between Maheswaran and Nassif from 2021 when the developer sent his lawyer a video of Chandler at a job site. Nassif believed the video could be damaging to Chandler, the commission heard.

Maheswaran replied: “Can I provide it to my MP friend?” He could not recall who this was.

Maheswaran said in a separate message: “I want to keep it highly secret. You will see in the next four weeks he will be finished.”

Who should be mayor of Strathfield? It’s written in the cards

When the “killing season” comes around, most political types count the numbers. But for this political execution, two Strathfield councillors turned to tarot cards.

The ICAC heard Maheswaran asked a tarot deck what then-mayor Matthew Blackmore’s next moves would be as he and Karen Pensabene allegedly plotted to force his resignation.

Maheswaran drew three cards: the Two of Cups (in a professional setting, this means a strong partnership – Pensabene and Maheswaran), the King of Swords reversed (someone who’s intelligent and talkative, but can manipulate or hurt others) and the Eight of Wands (hastiness, speed, rushing, progress).

The cards told them they needed to move quickly – or perhaps they were moving too quickly, Maheswaran wondered.

Assistant Commissioner Fabian Gleeson, SC, was confused.

“Mr Maheswaran, I’ve got to ask you, is this serious banter between yourself and Mrs Pensabene or what is it?”

Maheswaran explained the cards were a bit of a lark which he was using as a prop, but there was a “genuineness” to the commentary about the vote for mayor.

“It displays my age … I’ve got to say the tarot cards don’t appeal to me,” Gleeson said.

What’s next

One day more. Another day, another questioning of Sharangan Maheswaran – or so we’re promised.

Next Tuesday the inquiry will return for the final scheduled day of public hearings, with the goal of completing Maheswaran’s time in the witness box. As we’ve come to know, the ICAC witness lists can be fickle beasts, so as always that is subject to change.