Clifton Wong: ICAC witness, former Hurstville councillor found dead in Burwood

The former councillor was found dead at an office building in Sydney’s inner west on Wednesday, only days after appearing as an ICAC witness into an investigation into three former colleagues.

A former Hurstville councillor who appeared as a witness during a state anti-corruption watchdog inquiry into three former colleagues was found dead only days after giving evidence, NewsLocal can confirm.

Clifton Wong, 62, a former Hurstville councillor, was found dead on Wednesday at an office complex on Deane St in Burwood.

On Monday, he appeared before ICAC to give evidence into the conduct of three former council colleagues who are alleged to have accepted perks from developers in exchange for favourable planning decisions.

NSW Police said emergency services crews responded to reports a 62-year-old man had died in an office complex in Burwood about 1.20pm on Wednesday.

NewsLocal has confirmed the man attended to, and found dead, was Mr Wong.

Mr Wong was a former longstanding Labor councillor who served on Hurstville City Council from 1999 to 2012.

Clifton Wong, pictured here appearing as a witness at ICAC, has been found dead. Picture: ICAC

On Monday, in front of ICAC, Mr Wong told the commission that he regretted not telling anyone he witnessed a developer hand the then-deputy mayor $10,000 to help with a potential development.

ICAC’s Operation Galley is examining whether former Hurstville and Georges River councillors Con Hindi and Vince Badalati, and former Hurstville councillor Philip Sansom, accepted perks including overseas flights and accommodation from developers in exchange for supporting developments in Hurstville from 2014 to 2021.

NSW Police have said his death is not being treated as suspicious.

More to come.

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