Fugitive developer Jean Nassif vows to ‘fix’ embattled company Toplace

Pictures of fugitive Sydney property developer Jean Nassif lying in hospital have emerged, with the Toplace founder saying he is suffering from ‘anxiety, depression and stress’ — but will ‘fight back’ to resurrect his company.

Photographs of besieged Sydney property developer Jean Nassif lying in hospital have emerged as the Toplace founder reveals he is suffering from “anxiety, depression and stress”.

The property developer who has presided over the collapse of a $1.5b empire — potentially impacting more than 20,000 homeowners — has vowed to “fight back” and “fix” his problems.

Nassif is the subject of an outstanding warrant, with NSW police keen to talk to him as part of an investigation into allegations of “large-scale fraud” at his family business.

The developer informed a state parliamentary inquiry in February that he was in a “remote part of Lebanon”.

The inquiry was held to examine allegations of ­impropriety against agents of the Hills Shire Council and property developers in the region.

Toplace founder Jean Nassif ‘in hospital in Lebanon’.

It is understood the photos were taken in recent weeks.

The Sunday Telegraph this week obtained photographs allegedly taken in recent weeks of Nassif lying in a hospital bed.

It is understood the photographs were taken in Lebanon, although it is not clear if he remains in the country, with Nassif telling another media outlet this week that he could not confirm his whereabouts as “they are looking for me”.

Jean and Nissy Nassif and their children in a screenshot from Jean Nassif’s Facebook page, posted on January 9 in Lebanon.

Nissy Nassif (left) has recently been seen in social media posts with a friend, out on the town sans wedding ring.

Along with the voluntary administration of Toplace, Nassif’s personal life also appears to be in tatters, with the developer understood to have become estranged from his wife Nisserine “Nissy” Nassif, with whom he has three young children.

It is understood part of Nassif’s anxiety stems from the developer being apart from his ­children.

The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption is also investigating allegations several councillors in Sydney’s northwest were replaced to engineer favourable development results for Toplace.

The allegations were raised last year in NSW parliament by Castle Hill MP Ray Williams.

The corruption watchdog recently raided the homes of up to five past and present Liberal Party members in relation to the investigation, and has recently been holding meetings with other key witnesses.

Despite ballooning personal and financial woes, Nassif vowed to fix the mess.

“I have been suffering anxiety, depression and stress from what is being done to me,” he said. “But I am fighting back.

“I will fix my problems.”

NSW Fair Trading has banned Toplace and Nassif from operating in NSW pending a review.

The move follows the agency issuing building rectification orders for works to fix defects in Toplace buildings, including three issued for 11-15 Charles St, Canterbury, on July 7 and March 17 this year and February 2 last year.

A meeting of creditors was held last week in Drummoyne, with a second meeting to decide Toplace’s future to be convened in the coming weeks.