No link between Khal Asfour and fallen MP Eddie Obeid, inquiry finds

An inquiry has cleared Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour after a party rival made corruption claims against him last year.

Embattled Labor candidate Khal Asfour has been cleared by an inquiry launched to investigate explosive corruption claims made by a party rival under parliamentary privilege last year.

The investigation could not identify any illegal or corrupt conduct relating to claims made by former Labor MP Tania Mihailuk about historic Council planning decisions about a property linked with corrupt former Minister Eddie Obeid.

The probe was launched in September following Ms Mihailuk’s attack on Mr Asfour in parliament.

Ms Mihailuk claimed that Mr Asfour was “tainted” and had worked to benefit Obeid after the Labor figure attended Mr Asfour’s wedding in 2010.

“No evidence has been provided which reflects that the assertions as made by Ms Mihailuk MP, as alleged against the Mayor, Councillor Asfour, are substantiated,” the investigation found.

Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour has been cleared by an inquiry. Picture: Tim Hunter.

The investigation, led by SINC Solutions, found “is no evidence that the Mayor (Mr Asfour) is a close associate and or friend of Mr Eddie Obeid.”

The inquiry was reviewed by former premier Gladys Berejiklian’s boyfriend Arthur Moses.

Mr Moses found that Mr Asfour “was not directly involved in any decisions” regarding a property linked with the Obeid family.

Mr Asfour’s wedding was held at the Bellevue Venue, a function centre linked to the Obeid family.

Mr Asfour told the SINC investigation that the venue was booked by his parents and parents-in-law. He said that he invited Obeid to wedding after Ms Mihailuk “badgered” him to do so.

Ms Mihailuk told parliament last year that the Bellevue Venue was given a favourable planning assessment in the council’s 2021 master plan.

The investigation found no evidence that Mr Asfour failed to declare or manage any conflicts of interest relating to planning issues raised by Ms Mihailuk.

Member for Bankstown Tania Mihailuk. Picture: Joel Carrett

Disgraced former MP Eddie Obeid. Picture: Toby Zerna

The investigation also cleared Mr Asfour of wrongdoing relating to claims made by Liberal MP Wendy Lindsay in parliament alleging the council had improperly engaged with developers to amend planning rules.

Ms Lindsay and Ms Mihailuk refused to participate in the investigation.

In a statement, Mr Asfour labelled the findings as a “complete vindication”.

“The allegations levelled were without substance or foundation and for the sole purpose of political gain,” Mayor Asfour said.

“The amount of time and resources wasted on this political witch hunt must be condemned.”

Mr Asfour still faces a parliamentary probe into the conduct of Canterbury-Bankstown council during his time as mayor.

The Labor candidate, who has been consistently backed by leader Chris Minns, has previously threatened to sue senior government ministers and MPs over videos they posted on social media..

The Daily Telegraph revealed last month that Mr Asfour had hired defamation lawyer Rebekah Giles to send threats of defamation proceedings to multiple Liberals including Trade Minister Alister Henskens and Employee Relations Minister Damien Tudehope.

The emails related to social media videos relating to Ms Asfour.

In an email to Mr Henskens, Ms Giles said the tweet and embedded video was “highly defamatory” of her client.