Former Toplace lawyer and Strathfield councillor Sharangan Maheswaran testifies again in ICAC hearing
Sharangan Maheswaran returned to the ICAC stand on the second day of Operation Rosny, repeating accusations against developer Jean Nassif and detailing payments from Toplace.
The ICAC’s Operation Rosny entered its ninth week of public hearings as Sharangan Maheswaran, a former Toplace lawyer and Labor Strathfield councillor, appeared for a second day on the witness stand. He accused developer Jean Nassif of providing false statements to the commission and asserted that Nassif intended to damage the career of former police minister David Elliott, a known critic of Nassif’s projects. Maheswaran admitted he was paid more than $660,000 by Toplace during his council tenure, estimating total remuneration of $1.4 million from July 2020 through March 2023.
He explained that Nassif retained a contract with the firm Beckington to stay close to its “boss,” which he believed referred to Charles Perrottet, the brother of former premier Dominic. Maheswaran could not specify how he formed the understanding that Perrottet expected payment from Beckington’s work with Toplace.
Why it matters
The testimony highlights alleged corruption linking a property developer, a local councillor, and political figures, raising public concern over governance integrity.
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