Operation Tolosa's public inquiry has adjourned and will resume tomorrow. Thank you for joining us in our live blog coverage.
Prolet construction boss Joseph Jacob, Frank Bruzzano questioned in Angelo Tsirekas ICAC inquiry
A professional friend of a Sydney Mayor has revealed he asked for assistance in speeding up the assessment of a development for a series of apartments in the inner west. ROLLING COVERAGE
Good morning and welcome to day seven of The Daily Telegraph’s live coverage of hearings into corruption allegations against sitting Canada Bay Mayor Angelo Tsirekas.
The state’s corruption watchdog is probing allegations Cr Tsirekas has partially exercised his official functions to favour the interests of Development firms iProsperity and Billbergia, Prolet Constructions and contractor Joseph Chidiac, in relation to planning matters affecting those companies and deliberately failed to declare or properly manage any conflict of interest arising from his relationships.
It is also alleged Cr Tsirekas has partially exercised his official functions to favour the interests of accountant and “professional friend” Frank Bruzzano over a development application for 168-172 Victoria Road, Drummoyne.
ICAC has heard allegations the mayor deliberately failed to declare or properly manage any conflict of interest arising from his relationship with Mr Bruzzano.
ICAC: PLANNING MANAGER ACCUSES MAYOR ANGELO TSIREKAS OF HELPING MATES JUMP PLANNING QUEUE
ICAC: CITY OF CANADA BAY MAYOR ANGELO TSIREKAS ‘ACCEPTED REWARDS’ FOR DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL
ICAC: CANADA BAY MAYOR ANGELO TSIREKAS, PLANNER WORKED TO FAST-TRACK COUNCIL REVIEW OF SKYSCRAPER
Day seven of the ICAC hearings will see Frank Bruzzano and Prolet Construction boss, Joseph Jacob, take to the witness stand — follow our live blog coverage below.
Updates
Developers tipped off about ICAC raid, investigation.
ICAC has been told Prolet Construction bosses were tipped off by Joseph Chidiac that the watchdog had revealed Joseph and Pierre Jacobs were "somehow involved" in their corruption investigations into Angelo Tsirekas.
Chief commissioner Peter Hall has questioned why Mr Joseph Jacobs deleted the contact details of Joseph Chidiac and Angelo Tsirekas. Mr James told the ICAC that he didn't want to have further contact with the pair.
Mr Jacobs told ICAC Mr Chidiac said he was "raided" by ICAC officers, however, he was not concerned about being raided himself.
"Mr Chidiac said the commission had no problem in informing us of his raid," Mr Jacobs said.
Mr Joseph Jacobs said it was most probable that he deleted text messages and voice messages from the Mayor and Joseph Chidiac. Mr Jacobs also told ICAC that he communicated with Mr Chidiac via Wickr because messages "self-destruct" after they are seen and large files could be sent.
'Can investigators trace deleted WhatsApp messages': developer's google search
Prolet Construction employee Joseph Jacobs has explained his 'professional relationship' with Angelo Tsirekas ended after a falling out over plans for the Rhodes East masterplan.
Mr Jacobs said Cr Tsirekas and Canada Bay Council had a "different stance" on the master planning for the Rhodes Priority Precinct than the NSW Government. Mr Jacobs said he deleted the mayor's contact details in 2019 as a result of this "falling out".
ICAC investigators were able to extract screenshots taken by Mr Jacobs on his personal phone. The screenshot related to a google search query as to "whether investigators can trace deleted WhatsApp messages". Mr Jacobs said he could not recall why he made the google query before telling ICAC Joseph Chidiac "rocked up" at his office to inform him that he had been visited by ICAC investigators.
Mr Jacobs said he then deleted Mr Chidiac's contact details and WhatsApp exchanges because he "didn't want to be involved" with Mr Chidiac after he was visited by ICAC.
Mr Jacobs said it "was possible" that he was concerned to know whether or not deleted messages can be recovered by investigators.
More Chidiac family members named by ICAC witness
ICAC has heard a relative of development contractor Joseph Chidiac approached Prolet acquisitions employee Joseph Jacobs to manage recently-purchased property in Canada Bay.
Dib Chidiac approached Mr Jacobs, of Prolet Constructions, to manage property acquired for land banking in 2014. Mr James told ICAC Dib Chidiac was known as a "prominent agent" managing around 1000 across Canada Bay.
Mr Jacobs also told ICAC he was recommended real estate agent, Tim Wu, by Mr Joseph Chidiac.
In his evidence to ICAC Mr Joseph Jacobs was yet another witness to say Canada Bay Mayor Angelo Tsirekas as not a 'close friend', rather describing a 'professional friendship'.
Construction company managed development 'for free': ICAC hears
ICAC has heard that the brothers behind Prolet Construction, Joseph and Pierre Jacobs, didn't charge friend and accountant Frank Bruzzano for building works for the construction of a series of apartments in a four-storey shop-top housing development in Sydney's inner west.
Mr Bruzzano told ICAC Prolet Constructions was the nominated builder behind the development at 168-172 Victoria Road, Drummoyne, he didn't pay the construction company a cent for "any services they provided".
However, Mr Bruzzano said all contractors were paid by him for the work at the Drummoyne development.
"I paid all the bills, Pierre (Jacobs) simply checked to see if the bills were fair," Mr Bruzzano said.
The developer said Pierre Jacobs "offered" to provide his services for free as "he had no work at the time". "I was very grateful, I accepted and I worked alongside him so their wasn't a huge burden on him.
The information provided to ICAC comes after surveillance photos of Pierre Jacobs, Frank Bruzzano and Canada Bay Mayor Angelo Tserikas meeting at Bowen Island Bakery in Drummoyne.
'I wanted to see if you could help a mate of mine'
Intercepted phone calls confirm property developer and accountant Frank Bruzzano asked Mayor Angelo Tsirekas to 'help a mate' with a property development in Canada Bay May, 2019.
Mr Bruzzano had previously told ICAC he had asked the mayor to assist his friend with a development application at his home in Drummoyne.
Mayor organised tickets to Parliament luncheon for developers
Intercepted calls of Canada Bay Mayor Angelo Tsirekas and property developer Frank Bruzzano reveal the councillor organised a 'VIP ticket' to a lunch with NSW Government Ministers and the Premier at Parliament House.
The calls allegedly show Cr Tsirekas organised tickets for Mr Bruzzano and Prolet construction representatives, Joseph or Pierre Jacobs, to attend the event.
Mr Bruzzano told ICAC he had no idea why Cr Tsirekas would invite him to the event or why the mayor told him it would "be good for you" to attend the lunch.
Mr Bruzzano told ICAC he did not attend the event.
Accountant 'can't recall' topic of tapped calls with development consultant
Property developer and accountant Frank Bruzzano claimed he has no recollection of the development at the centre of a series of ICAC intercepted phone calls between him and iProsperity contractor, Joseph Chidiac.
Over two days of ICAC inquiries Mr Bruzzano said he was unable to recall the Rhodes development at the centre of conversations between the two men.
"I think its the same issue that pertains Prolet and it's their property in Rhodes," Mr Bruzzano told ICAC.
When asked why he was speaking on behalf of Prolet Construction boss Joseph James, Mr Bruzzano said he was "having a general discussion based on what I've heard".
Mr Bruzzano refuted claims by counsel assisting ICAC that he encouraged the consultant to save or screenshot messages "because it will assist Mr Chidiac in the future".
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