‘Corrupt’ former Canada Bay mayor Angelo Tsirekas to fight ICAC findings in NSW Supreme Court

A former Sydney mayor found corrupt by NSW’s watchdog has launched a legal challenge against the findings – but questions remain about who is actually footing the bill.

Former Canada Bay mayor Angelo Tsirekas.

A former Sydney mayor found corrupt by NSW’s watchdog has formally launched a legal challenge in the state’s highest court against the findings, but questions remain about who is actually footing the bill.

In November, the Independent Commission Against Corruption found that the then City of Canada Bay mayor, Angelos Tsirekas, had engaged in “serious corrupt conduct” pertaining to planning decisions.

NSW Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig suspended the mayor on the day of ICAC’s findings, before removing him and barring him from running for office for five years in December.

The Australian can reveal that Mr Tsirekas, whose legal representatives said in December they intended to fight the findings, has since formally instigated ­proceedings against ICAC in the NSW Supreme Court.

The matter first appears on March 6 for a directions hearing, where the parties will thrash out how the case will move forward.

In November, Mr Tsirekas claimed “key adverse findings” had been based on “errors of fact and law”.

iProsperity Group director Xialou (Belinda) Li and Mr Tsirekas in China. Picture: ICAC

It is the same route taken by former premier Gladys Berejiklian, who will appear later in February at the same court in a bid to overturn a corruption finding by ICAC, although in a separate matter and an unrelated watchdog investigation.

Exactly who is footing Mr ­Tsirekas’s legal bill for his appeal is unclear. A City of Canada Bay Council spokesman that it was not aware its former mayor had lodged legal papers against ICAC with the Supreme Court.

The spokesman said while council couldn’t comment on a legal matter external to it, he did confirm the council’s insurance had previously covered ICAC-­related costs incurred by council.

It couldn’t confirm, however, who would be covering the ex-mayor’s new legal costs, whether it was council’s insurer or the ­former mayor himself personally.

The council’s mutual insurer, Statewide Mutual, and Mr Tsirekas were contacted, but hadn’t ­responded at the time of publication.

As is common across councils, Canada Bay has an insurance ­policy as part of a “mutual”, with other councils. The policy would, when required, cover council, but also ­office bearers – although who and why triggered and used the policy would remain private to that person.

In a separate matter, former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian is appealing ICAC’s findings in the Supreme Court.

Given Mr Tsirekas is appealing a matter that occurred during his mayorship, it is understood the policy would still cover him, including his upcoming appeal as it was first triggered at that point in time, if he chose to use it.

In November, ICAC found Mr Tsirekas engaged in “serious corrupt conduct” when he accepted “rewards” and trips to China from developer I-Prosperity in return for favourable planning decisions.

The watchdog found Mr Tsirekas accepted overseas flights, trips and accommodation – to the tune of almost $20,000 – from the developer and its agent Joseph Chidiac, a friend of the mayor, as a “reward” for favouring the group’s property interests in the local government area.

ICAC found Mr Chidiac also engaged in “serious corrupt conduct”. He has also launched his own legal fight against the watchdog in the NSW Supreme Court.