Charles Perrottet, brother of former New South Wales premier Dominic Perrottet, told the state's anti-corruption commission on Monday that he lied to property developer Jean Nassif about delivering political outcomes. He denied, however, that he lied to the commission itself.
Perrottet is one of three Liberal figures alleged to have anticipated receiving $2 million in prohibited political donations from Nassif. He told the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) that he "made up" updates for the developer, according to testimony at the hearing.
What Perrottet said
Perrottet admitted he fabricated progress reports on political outcomes to keep Nassif "on side". He told Icac he would lie to the developer about delivering results, but insisted he was truthful when answering the commission's questions. The admission came during a tense day of testimony in Sydney.
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The alleged $2m donations
The commission is investigating whether three Liberal figures, including Perrottet, expected to receive $2 million in donations that would have breached NSW political donation laws. Nassif, a prominent property developer, has been linked to the Liberal party's fundraising network. The alleged payments are at the centre of the inquiry.
The commission's pushback
Counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer SC challenged Perrottet's credibility, telling the hearing he is not truthful and is "constructing evidence". Dwyer's claim suggests the commission may not accept his denials at face value. The hearing continues, with Perrottet expected to face further questioning.
No direct crypto impact
This is a domestic political matter with no direct bearing on digital asset markets. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are trading on macro factors, not this hearing. However, the broader regulatory environment in Australia, which has a growing crypto adoption rate, is something businesses monitor. Any fallout from the Icac investigation could, in theory, influence political donation laws or financial scrutiny, but that's speculative and long-term.
