The Aporia · ‘Didn’t seem upset’: ICAC told former Strathfield mayor was not bothered by dirt sheet

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is investigating claims that former Strathfield councillor Sharangan Maheswaran distributed a flyer with negative allegations against Matthew Blackmore, who was then mayor of Strathfield. Real estate agent Mohammad Abedin testified that Blackmore did not appear distressed upon seeing the flyer and that he first met Maheswaran around the time his own business collapsed in 2023. The ICAC is examining whether Maheswaran’s actions involved blackmail or breaches of public trust.

Written by AI on 2026-09-17, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

In March 2023, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in Sydney heard allegations involving Strathfield's political landscape. Real estate agent Mohammad Abedin testified that when a defamatory flyer was placed on former mayor Matthew Blackmore’s car, Blackmore did not seem particularly upset by it. The flyer contained negative allegations against Blackmore and was allegedly orchestrated by Sharangan Maheswaran, a former Labor councillor and lawyer at the collapsed construction company Toplace. Maheswaran is accused of attempting to pressure Blackmore into resigning so that fellow Labor councillor Karen Pensabene could become mayor. ICAC is examining whether Maheswaran and Pensabene engaged in corrupt practices, including potential blackmail and breaches of surveillance laws.

Written for “ICAC Inquiry Strathfield Mayor” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 ICAC Inquiry Strathfield Mayor

Politics · 1 article(s) covering the same event.

This article reads unscored and hedges 17% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

ICAC Operation Rosny LIVE updates: Former Toplace lawyer, Strathfield Labor councillor Sharangan Maheswaran to resume evidence Different event

The Sydney Morning Herald

Hedges 0 of 4 claims Outlet record 61/100

“The articles describe different aspects of the ICAC investigation involving Sharangan Maheswaran, one about a flyer incident and another about a cheque related to political donation allegations.”

Rats in the ranks: ICAC hears double-crosses, blackmail and broken promises Different event

The Sydney Morning Herald

Hedges 1 of 30 claims Outlet record 61/100

“The articles describe different aspects of ICAC hearings, with Article A focusing on general scheming and double-dealing within Strathfield Council, while Article B specifically mentions a flyer of negative allegations against former Mayor Matthew Blackmore.”

Operation Rosny LIVE updates: Strathfield real estate agent Mohammad Abedin used ChatGPT to write ICAC statement Different event

The Sydney Morning Herald

Hedges 0 of 10 claims Outlet record 61/100

“Article A reports on Mohammad Abedin's testimony about Matthew Blackmore's reaction to a dirt sheet, while Article B provides live updates and context for ongoing ICAC hearings but does not specifically mention the same incident involving the dirt sheet.”

‘Pretty bad look’: Lawyer denies lying to ICAC over $148,500 cheque, Liberal fundraiser Different event

The Sydney Morning Herald

Hedges 2 of 27 claims Outlet record 61/100

“The articles discuss different aspects of ICAC proceedings involving Sharangan Maheswaran, one concerning a 'dirt sheet' and the other about a $148,500 cheque.”

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2026-09-22 · assertive framing · Private investigator told police about alleged extortion attempt against Jean Nassif

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Homebush real estate agent Mohammad Abedin has claimed the former mayor of Strathfield Matthew Blackmore did not seem particularly distressed after a flyer outlining a host of negative allegations about him was planted on his car.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-17

🔮 Homebush real estate agent Mohammad Abedin has claimed the former mayor of Strathfield Matthew Blackmore did not seem particularly distressed after a flyer outlining a host of negative allegations about him was planted on his car.

2026-09-17 · The Sydney Morning Herald

‘Didn’t seem upset’: ICAC told former Strathfield mayor was not bothered by dirt sheet · assertive framing

flyer → claim → car

The Independent Commission Against Corruption has heard allegations that Sharangan Maheswaran, a former Labor Strathfield councillor and lawyer at collapsed construction company Toplace, was behind the dirt sheet on Blackmore. asserted

Maheswaran → hear → Blackmore

The “shit sheet” was part of a pressure campaign from Maheswaran to force Blackmore to resign as mayor so fellow Labor councillor Karen Pensabene could take the job, the commission has heard. uncertain

commission → force → job

The commission is investigating whether Maheswaran and Pensabene “engaged in conduct towards Strathfield Councillor Matthew Blackmore that involves the dishonest or partial exercise of their official functions and/or a breach of public trust, including conduct which could involve blackmail and/or possible breaches of the Surveillance Devices Act 2007”. uncertain

which → investigate → Act

Abedin, who worked with Blackmore at Inner West Property, told the commission on Thursday that he could not comment on whether the former mayor was distressed to see the flyer on his car. uncertain

mayor → work → car

“Sorry, you’re saying he didn’t seem upset to you. asserted

he → say → you

Counsel assisting Juliet Curtin asked Abedin. asserted

Curtin → assist → Abedin

“Yeah, didn’t seem upset,” Abedin responded. asserted

Abedin → seem → ?

Abedin was shown the flyer allegedly made by Maheswaran, but he said he did not recall seeing it. uncertain

he → show → it

Curtin pointed Abedin to evidence he gave in a private hearing in 2023 describing negative “marketing material”. asserted

he → point → material

Abedin said he saw different material. asserted

he → say → material

Abedin told the commission he first met Maheswaran at a Homebush cafe with Blackmore but the pair became more friendly around the time Abedin’s business collapsed in 2023. asserted

business → tell → 2023

Abedin said he was still in contact with Maheswaran, who would sometimes give him free legal advice, the commission heard. asserted

commission → say → advice

While he remains friendly with Maheswaran, Abedin told the commission that his professional relationship with Blackmore broke down in 2023, about the time Abedin’s company was collapsing. asserted

company → remain → 2023

The pair had a verbal agreement for Blackmore to buy into Abedin’s Inner West Property business, but that deal fell through. asserted

deal → have → business

Blackmore paid for renovations to the office when he believed the pair were going to become business partners. asserted

pair → pay → office

After Abedin’s company collapsed, Blackmore sent an invoice to Abedin to the tune of about $15,000, the commission heard. asserted

commission → collapse → 15,000

Abedin said he refused to pay Blackmore who he said was “dishonest”. asserted

he → say → Blackmore

Maheswaran is due to give evidence on Friday. asserted

Maheswaran → give → Friday

Sydney’s best coverage of the ICAC inquiry - ‘You like?’ Jean Nassif’s $10m ice deal, zero regrets and one-way ticket out of trouble - asserted

You → like → trouble

Liberal apparatchik said he paid Anita Perrottet for invaluable advice - asserted

he → say → advice

‘Ridiculous way to run a business’: Liberal operative says no documents kept for $5m deal - asserted

documents → run → deal

‘There’s the door’: Retiring Liberal MP blasts party hacks as moderates wane asserted

moderates → ’ → hacks

‘Didn’t seem upset’: ICAC told former Strathfield mayor was not bothered by dirt sheet

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