A property developer, Jean Nassif, allegedly made prohibited donations to support factional Liberal work and claimed in a secretly recorded phone call that "the premier is my best friend." This call occurred the day after Dominic Perrottet was appointed as the New South Wales premier, as revealed during an inquiry by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac).

Key Details

Charles Perrottet, the younger brother of the former premier, testified on Thursday that Nassif's claims in the intercepted call were merely "bravado" and "far-fetched." It is important to note that Dominic Perrottet is not named as a person of interest in Icac’s allegations and is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Nassif, who fled Australia for Lebanon in 2022, has withdrawn from an expected video appearance on Friday, citing a medical certificate. He has previously denied any wrongdoing.

Allegations Under Investigation

Icac is investigating allegations that conservative factional figures, including Charles Perrottet, Jeremy Greenwood, and Christian Ellis, received prohibited donations totaling $2 million from Nassif or his company Toplace between 2020 and 2023. These donations were allegedly made in exchange for political outcomes, including:

  • Damage to the career of former NSW Liberal minister David Elliott, who opposed Nassif’s developments.
  • The removal of former building commissioner David Chandler, who was scrutinizing defects in Toplace apartments.

Ellis is currently overseas and has not responded to Icac’s allegations, while Greenwood is scheduled to appear before the commission next week.

Testimony Highlights

During the inquiry, Charles Perrottet described a phone conversation between Nassif and his younger brother Jean-Claude Perrottet, in which Nassif claimed he had "forced the boys" to remove the Liberal branch of Baulkham Hills in Elliott’s seat. He characterized this October 2021 call as "even more far-fetched."