Sharangan Maheswaran, former Toplace lawyer and Strathfield councillor, to continue evidence

The corruption inquiry has heard evidence that, while Jean Nassif was claiming to his Toplace offsider Sharangan Maheswaran that he was the victim of an extortion attempt, another Toplace employee was also in contact with the apparent extortioner.

Navid Ardestani, who the ICAC earlier heard was chasing payment for work done for the developer, texted Toplace employee Charbel Barakat asking him to chase the payments.

“Jean is not responding again, and made me look bad in front of the other builder who was going to help with the remediation work in Castle Hill. Please advise,” Ardestani texted.

Ardestani then forwarded Barakat the following text exchange.