Canada Bay Council Mayor Angelo Tsirekas suspended after corruption probe

A long-term mayor has been suspended from office and could lose his job after a watchdog found he engaged in corrupt conduct.

A Sydney mayor has been suspended and could be sacked after a watchdog found he engaged in corrupt conduct, including accepting lavish holidays overseas.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption found Canada Bay Council Mayor Angelo Tsirekas acted unduly when accepting benefits from developer I-Prosperity Group and their agent Joseph Chidiac, a friend of Mr Tsirekas, in return for favourable planning decisions that date back to 2012.

Mr Tsirekas also did not disclose a conflict of interest when dealing with I-Prosperity Group even when he knew he was meant to do so, ICAC said in its report released on Thursday.

In a statement, NSW Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig said he had reviewed the report and ICAC’s recommendation that Mr Tsirekas be removed from civic office.

“Having considered ICAC’s recommendation, I have suspended Angelo Tsirekas from civic office with a view to his dismissal for serious corrupt conduct effective immediately,” he said.

“Should Cr Tsirekas be dismissed from his civic office, there are processes in place that would enable City of Canada Bay councillors to fill the position of mayor for the remainder of the current term of council.

“The prosecution or otherwise of Cr Tsirekas and other people named in the report is a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions.”

I-Prosperity Group director Xialou (Belinda) Li and Canada Bay Mayor Angelo Tsirekas in China. Picture: ICAC

ICAC found that Mr Tsirekas received “overseas flights and accommodation to the value of at least $18,800” from the developer and Mr Chidiac.

Mr Tsirekas, who took 24 overseas trips between 2015 and 2019, as well as paying a deposit on a unit in Ashfield in the same period, gave evidence that the money came from legitimate sources, including his late father’s estate.

It was a claim disputed in the ICAC report, which stated “the commission does not accept that argument”.

Mr Tsirekas also claimed that he received “loans”, including from Mr Chidiac, to fund his overseas trips over that five-year period, but they were paid back in 2020.

Mr Chidiac supported this claim, telling ICAC that he was repaid a sum of about $9000 after Mr Tsirekas finalised his divorce.

Mr Tsirekas also received Commonwealth political donations of $10,000 from three separate individuals linked with I-Prosperity when he ran for the seat of Reid in the 2016 federal election.

He was first elected Canada Bay mayor in 2002.

Mr Hoenig said the government would consider ICAC’s corruption prevention recommendations.

Originally published as Canada Bay Council Mayor Angelo Tsirekas suspended after corruption probe