Fugitive property developer Jean Nassif appeared via video link from Beirut before the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Tuesday, delivering a fiery testimony marked by denials and controversial claims regarding his alleged influence over government figures and political factions within the NSW Liberal Party.

Nassif, the former head of the now-collapsed Toplace development group, had initially sought to avoid attending the inquiry, citing medical reasons, but ultimately addressed the commission without legal representation, stating his intention to “speak my heart.” During the hearing, Nassif did not hesitate to openly criticize former NSW police minister David Elliott, labeling him as both “racist” and corrupt.

Central to the inquiry is allegations that Nassif’s payments totaling up to $2 million were funneled to members of a conservative Christian faction of the NSW Liberal Party known as “the Reformers.” The commission has heard claims that individuals including Jeremy Greenwood, Christian Ellis, and Charles Perrottet—the brother of ex-premier Dominic Perrottet—were involved in receiving these funds. Nassif asserted these payments were intended to undermine the political careers of Elliott and the former NSW building commissioner David Chandler, whom he viewed as barriers to advancing his property developments.

Testifying to his introduction to the faction members, Nassif said this followed a confrontation with several centre-right politicians at a 2019 Liberal Party event, where he expressed grievances directly to former Prime Minister Tony Abbott. According to Nassif, Abbott directed his concerns to party operative Jean-Pierre Abood, who then connected him to Greenwood and Ellis. Nassif said the men promised support in expediting his development approvals, reducing media scrutiny, and curbing critical commentary from broadcaster Ray Hadley.

Though initially he agreed to pay $1 million, Nassif said this amount doubled to $2 million over time. However, he denied that party members explicitly promised political favors or factional takeovers in exchange for the money. Regarding Charles Perrottet, Nassif described him as a friend who requested funds “for recruiting members” but denied that Perrottet committed to delivering concrete assistance for his projects. Nassif characterized many of the claims made by these figures as empty promises designed to secure payments.

The hearing included the playing of intercepted phone conversations in which Nassif boasted about controlling more than half the government and claimed to have secured numbers within the Liberal Party executive. Nassif dismissed these remarks as “all talk” prompted by frustration over challenges posed by Chandler and Hadley.

Additionally, Nassif recounted a call in which he was described by the right-wing faction as their “godfather” and was allegedly told that Elliott would lose his seat. Nassif denied this was a result of any agreement or payment, stating that his financial contributions were motivated solely by a desire to protect his business interests amid ongoing adversity.

When questioned about the distribution of the $2 million among Greenwood, Ellis, and Perrottet, Nassif expressed indifference to how the funds were split but later confirmed he ceased payments after losing confidence in Greenwood and Ellis’s effectiveness.

Nassif agreed to return to ICAC to continue his evidence on Tuesday as the inquiry proceeds with its examination of influence, factionalism, and alleged corruption within NSW political and development circles.