Fugitive property developer Jean Nassif declared he cannot be silenced as he ranted about “crook” politicians and proclaimed his innocence during an expletive-laden tirade at the New South Wales anti-corruption watchdog on Tuesday.
Nassif, 58, dialled into the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s inquiry via video link from his Beirut bedroom, appearing relaxed as he waved handwritten notes at counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer SC.
Inquiry examines alleged $2m donations to NSW Liberals
As part of its investigation into allegations against people associated with the NSW Liberals, Icac is examining whether Liberal figures anticipated receiving $2m in prohibited donations from Nassif, in exchange for political outcomes, including damage to the career of former NSW Liberal minister David Elliott and the removal of then-building commissioner David Chandler.
During questioning on Tuesday, Nassif launched into a diatribe about Elliott and Chandler, NSW politics, and the state of the construction industry. He claimed Elliott had delayed approvals to put pressure on him, accused the building commissioner of lying about defects in his buildings, and said he was “fed up with the budget and the way the government is ruled by corrupt politicians”.
Nassif refuses to be silenced during hearing
Dwyer repeatedly urged Nassif to remain calm, asked him not to shout at her, and tried to pose further questions, but the property developer would not be stopped. “I want to prove my point, if you don’t want me to prove myself, I’ll withdraw from all this nonsense,” he told the commission.
Showing handwritten notes to the camera, Nassif said: “I’m taking notes ... so stop fucking putting words in my mouth. This is a public hearing, and I know what you’re doing. You want to show the public that I am corrupt. I’m not corrupt.”
Commission tells Nassif to focus on truth
Assistant commissioner Fabian Gleeson SC told Nassif to take a breath. “The purpose of this inquiry is to get to the truth of certain allegations,” Gleeson said. “It’s not for you to attack other people. You can be passionate about that, but this is not the forum for those complaints.”
Nassif responded by saying: “No, no, no, no. There is no one [who] can make me shut up. If you guys are not going to accept the problem, I need to pull out now.”
Nassif initially appeared at Icac on Monday. The former Toplace boss, who fled to Lebanon in 2022, produced a medical certificate to excuse himself from a scheduled appearance earlier this month. The inquiry continues.
