The Sydney Morning Herald
· collected 2026-09-25 · by Alexandra Smith, Jessica McSweeney
Daniel Mookhey, NSW Treasurer, referred allegations against building commissioner David Chandler to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) after meeting with Sharangan Maheswaran, a lawyer for disgraced developer Jean Nassif. The ICAC is investigating whether Nassif sought to harm Chandler's career because of scrutiny on serious defects in Nassif’s projects. Mookhey met Maheswaran at a cafe near NSW Parliament in October 2021 and agreed to report the claims to ICAC rather than raise them in parliament, as initially requested by Maheswaran.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-25,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In October 2021, Sharangan Maheswaran, a lawyer for disgraced developer Jean Nassif and an ALP member, approached Daniel Mookhey, then the shadow treasurer of NSW, to discuss concerns about building commissioner David Chandler. During their meeting at a cafe near NSW Parliament, Mookhey advised Maheswaran against raising these issues in budget estimates but suggested reporting them to the ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption) instead. The ICAC is investigating whether Nassif sought to harm Chandler's career due to his scrutiny of serious defects in Nassif’s projects, such as the Skyview building in Castle Hill. Mookhey referred Maheswaran’s claims to the ICAC the following day and provided a written statement, while Maheswaran did not refer the allegations himself.
Written for “ICAC Investigates Commissioner Claims” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey referred allegations about the building commissioner to the corruption watchdog after the lawyer for disgraced developer Jean Nassif asked the then opposition MP to raise concerns in state parliament.
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lawyer → refer → parliament
The Independent Commission Against Corruption heard on Friday that Nassif’s lawyer and ALP member Sharangan Maheswaran approached several members of parliament before building commissioner David Chandler was due to appear at a budget estimates hearing in 2021.
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Chandler → hear → 2021
One of those was Mookhey, then the shadow treasurer, who agreed to meet Maheswaran at a cafe near NSW Parliament in October 2021.
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who → agree → October
Mookhey told Maheswaran he would not raise the concerns about Chandler in budget estimates, and they should instead be reported to the ICAC.
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they → tell → ICAC
The ICAC is investigating whether Nassif wanted to damage Chandler’s career because the building commissioner was actively scrutinising serious defects in Nassif’s projects, including the Skyview building in Castle Hill.
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commissioner → investigate → Hill
Chandler is not accused of any wrongdoing.
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Chandler → accuse → wrongdoing
The commission heard Mookhey referred Maheswaran’s claims to the ICAC the next day and also later provided a written statement.
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Mookhey → hear → statement
Maheswaran did not refer the allegations, insisting he was concerned the ICAC was often too slow in responding to complaints.
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ICAC → refer → complaints
In the statement provided to the ICAC, Mookhey described the meeting with Maheswaran.
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Mookhey → provide → Maheswaran
Mookhey said Maheswaran did not identify Toplace, but only referred to his client as a “prominent builder”.
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Maheswaran → say → builder
“Mr Maheswaran told me he had a client whose projects are or were the subject of prohibition orders made by the commissioner, and the decision by the building commissioner to make prohibition orders led to adverse public commentary about his client, which in turn led to their client commencing defamation proceedings against the 2GB radio station and one of its major presenters,” Mookhey’s statement read.
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statement → tell → presenters
Maheswaran said it was unlikely he would have mentioned the defamation proceedings.
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he → say → proceedings
Mookhey’s statement recounted Maheswaran telling him: “The building commissioner harassed his client by making additional inspections, incorrectly issuing defect notices, and making references to mediations during site visits, which their client interpreted as an allusion to the defamation proceedings”.
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client → recount → proceedings
Counsel assisting Dr Peggy Dwyer, SC said: “Mr Maheswaran, I suggest to you that you relied on your position as a lawyer, to suggest to Mr Mookhey that he should take seriously these allegations of corruption against the building commissioner”.
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he → assist → commissioner
Maheswaran responded: “no”.
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Maheswaran → respond → ?
Dwyer also read out text messages between Maheswaran and Nassif from 2021 when the developer sent his lawyer a video of Chandler at a job site.
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developer → read → site
Nassif believed the video could be damaging to Chandler, the commission heard.
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commission → believe → Chandler
Maheswaran replied: “Can I provide it to my MP friend?”
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I → reply → friend
He could not recall who this was.
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this → recall → ?
Maheswaran said in a separate message: “I want to keep it highly secret.
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I → say → it
You will see in the next four weeks he will be finished.”
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he → see → weeks
ICAC unravels Jean Nassif’s paranoia, writes Kate McClymont
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McClymont → unravel → paranoia
Inside a grubby political blackmail plot that backfired spectacularly, writes Bevan Shields
- News:
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News → backfire → plot
Shakedown claims against Nassif ‘weaponised’ to damage building commissioner:
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claims → weaponise → commissioner
Beyond Jean Nassif, the murky dealings of Strathfield Council are aired at the long-running inquiry, writes Kate McClymont
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McClymont → air → inquiry
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