A private investigator told the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) on Tuesday that he was instructed to carry out surveillance on a former Liberal MP and provided covert recording devices to a fugitive property developer, as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged illegal donations and corrupt conduct involving several Liberal figures.
Shane De Kauwe, a former Australian federal police officer, said he installed a static camera on a residential building in 2022 to observe a woman linked to David Elliott, the ex-NSW Liberal MP and veterans minister. De Kauwe testified that the surveillance was conducted at the request of Toplace lawyer and executive Sharangan Maheswaran, who reportedly harbored animosity toward Elliott. The surveillance efforts aimed to uncover allegations that Elliott had breached COVID-19 restrictions in 2020, including details about a woman he was said to have met. However, De Kauwe told the commission that no incriminating evidence was found during events such as the Anzac Day parade.
The Icac inquiry is investigating claims that former Liberal figures Christian Ellis, Jeremy Greenwood, and Charles Perrottet received $2 million in unlawful donations from property developer Jean Nassif or his company Toplace in return for political favors. Nassif, currently based in Beirut, denied any corrupt behavior, while Greenwood and Perrottet rejected the assertion that payments were linked to political outcomes. Ellis has relocated overseas and is not expected to participate in the inquiry. The alleged favors include actions that allegedly undermined Elliott’s political career and led to the removal of former building commissioner David Chandler, who had been scrutinizing defects in Toplace apartments. Chandler is not accused of any wrongdoing.
De Kauwe also revealed that even after Nassif fled Australia in 2022, the developer continued to request surveillance on Elliott, Chandler, and radio host Ray Hadley. The investigator confirmed providing multiple recording devices, including voice recorder pens and small tracking gadgets, to Maheswaran, Nassif, and Greenwood. Nassif reportedly sought to record conversations involving individuals allegedly attempting to defraud him by offering payments to obtain occupancy certificates for Toplace projects. De Kauwe said he reported these claims to NSW police, but the allegations remain unproven.
The private investigator admitted to invoicing Maheswaran $134,000 for a six-day surveillance operation targeting Chandler and invoicing Toplace a similar amount between late 2022 and early 2023 for monitoring Strathfield councillor Matthew Blackmore. De Kauwe testified that after overhearing a conversation he believed to involve corrupt conduct, he acted on legal advice from Maheswaran to record additional discussions between Blackmore and others. Transcripts read during the hearings contained unclear references and did not conclusively indicate corrupt activity.
Icac is also examining possible misconduct by Strathfield Labor councillors Maheswaran and Karen Pensabene toward Blackmore, including allegations of blackmail and breaches of surveillance laws. Blackmore resigned as Strathfield mayor in early 2023. Maheswaran, who denies wrongdoing, is scheduled to continue testifying later this week, while Pensabene has been excused from appearing for health reasons. The inquiry, now in its ninth week of public hearings, remains ongoing.