Canada Bay mayor Angelo Tsirekas suspended after being found corrupt by ICAC
The mayor of Canada Bay in Sydney’s inner west has been suspended after an ICAC investigation found he gave a developer favourable treatment in exchange for festive overseas trips.
Inner West
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City of Canada Bay mayor Angelo Tsirekas has been suspended after he was found corrupt by ICAC in relation to claims he gave a developer favourable treatment in exchange for luxe overseas trips.
NSW local government minister Ron Hoenig has suspended Tsirekas from office effective immediately – with permanent dismissal not out of the question – after ICAC released a statement saying it had found Tsirekas corrupt over his relationship with a developer.
“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,” Mr Hoenig said.
“The Government will be considering ICAC’s corruption prevention recommendations contained in the report and will respond in due course.”
Deputy mayor Joseph Cordaro will now take over as acting mayor while Tsirekas remains suspended.
The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption found Tsirekas “engaged in serious corrupt conduct” in relation to his relationship with I-Prosperity Group and its agent Joseph Chidiac – a friend of the mayor – between November 2015 and February 2019.
ICAC released a statement on the investigation’s grim findings on Thursday.
“These benefits included overseas flights and accommodation, to the value of at least $18,800,” a statement from ICAC read.
According to the report, these benefits were used as an inducement for Mr Tsirekas in order to gain favor for I-Prosperity’s interests affecting properties in Rhodes that came before the Council during periods when he was mayor.
ICAC said Tsirekas also engaged in “serious corrupt conduct” by failing to disclose the conflict of interest arising from representatives of both I-Prosperity and Chidiac.
“The Commission is of the opinion that consideration should be given to the suspension of Mr Tsirekas from civic office with a view to his dismissal in relation to these serious corrupt conduct findings,” the statement continued.
ICAC found Tsirekas travelled overseas extensively – 24 trips between April 2015 and July 2019 – and in 2015 to 2016, he paid a deposit on a unit in Ashfield.
According to ICAC, one of these trips included a flight to China to attend the wedding of director of I-Prosperity Zhouxiang (Harry) Huang.
The trip included accommodation at The Langham hotel and a visit to Nanjing with Mr Chidiac and I-Prosperity employees, visits to a nightclub and other expenses which ICAC found to have been paid for by I-Prosperity.
During this time, I-Prosperity lodged its first planning proposal with the council for the Rhodes properties, and subsequently lodged three iterations of the proposal on May 31 2016, May 15 2018 and February 19 2019.
At all relevant times, Tsirekas was the mayor.
“On no occasion when the planning proposal came before the council did he declare a conflict of interest,” the statement read.
“Ultimately, the proposal was refused via a gateway determination (by the then Department of Planning, Industry and Environment under delegated authority from the minister) in March 2021.”
Canada Bay councilor Andrew Ferguson, told the Inner West Courier he expects Tsirekas to stand down as mayor.
“Mayor Tsirekas should now immediately resign,” he said.
“Those who were silent and or anyone who aided and abetted this corrupt conduct should be ashamed.”
Tsirekas and Mr Chidiac’s relationship has been in the spotlight throughout the investigation, with ICAC finding “they have been close personal friends for many years”.
“Both Mr Tsirekas and Mr Chidiac accepted that they have been close friends for many years,” the statement said.
“Since at least that time (2015), (they were) frequently socialising with one another and travelling overseas together on a number of occasions.”
However, Tsirekas had argued that he did not have any private interests, even when Mr Chidiac was working as an agent for I-Prosperity.
He had further claimed he did not know the extent of Mr Chidiac’s relationship with I-Prosperity “and other developers, and the conflict of interest to which it gave rise”.
ICAC did not accept that argument.
Tsirekas also told the commission that he received funds or “loans” from others, including Mr Chidiac, who said he paid Tsirekas’ airfare and accommodation expenses for a January 2016 trip to China, and a trip to Lebanon in October that year.
“He said Mr Tsirekas repaid about $9000 after his divorce proceedings were finalised and after he became aware of the Commission’s investigation,” the report said.
“The Commission is satisfied that the evidence demonstrates that, from 2016 to July 2020, Mr Tsirekas had the benefit of what was, in effect, an interest-free loan from Mr Chidiac.”
ICAC will seek the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on whether any prosecution should be commenced.
Canada Bay Council responded to the grave findings, stating they are awaiting review of the report.
“The council is aware that a report into Operation Tolosa (regarding Tsirekas’ actions) has been published by the ICAC,” a spokesman said.
“We are unable to provide comment until the report has been reviewed.”
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