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AAP
AAP
Duncan Murray and Farid Farid

Conservative Liberal lobbyist labels co-founder 'dodgy'

Liberal figure Robert Assaf has been grilled over his alleged role in a political donations scheme. (Damian Shaw/AAP PHOTOS)

A member of a conservative Liberal Party reform group says he was forced to distance himself from the "dodgy" behaviour of the group's co-founder.

Robert Assaf gave evidence for a second day to field questions about his alleged role in a scheme to funnel cash and move funds from prohibited donors.

A NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption is investigating alleged illicit political donations and branch-stacking, spearheaded by the Reformers, a conservative Christian faction among the NSW Liberals.

Mr Assaf said he came to believe Christian Ellis, with whom he co-founded the Reformers, was "untrustworthy".

The Independent Commission Against Corruption
Robert Assaf was probed by the Independent Commission Against Corruption over a fake invoice. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)

He explained he believed Mr Ellis was withholding money intended for the Reformers which passed through his advisory firm Beckington.

Under heated questioning, Mr Assaf admitted on at least one occasion he was paid by Beckington under a fake invoice using his wife's name, but said the idea likely came from Mr Ellis.

"Because he was dodgy?" Counsel Assisting Peggy Dwyer asked.

"I would say so, yes," Mr Assaf said.

"Did you start to feel pretty uncomfortable about being part of these dodgy arrangements?" Ms Dwyer said.

"Uncomfortable about my association with Christian, yes," Mr Assaf replied.

Counsel Assisting the Commission Peggy Dwyer
Peggy Dwyer questioned Robert Assaf over the movement of money via an advisory firm. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)

Mr Assaf said he was of the view Mr Ellis was lazy and not focused on the right things, saying he ultimately advised head of Catholic Schools NSW Dallas McInerney to cut ties with Beckington.

"Christian's a liar. He's greedy. I don't trust him and I'm not sure he's doing much for you at the moment," Mr Assaf said he likely told Mr McInerney, or words similar.

Ms Dwyer relentlessly probed Mr Assaf during Friday afternoon, with the 30-year-old frequently claiming he couldn't recall or wasn't privy to specific conversations.

Mr Assaf reluctantly admitted to doing work for the Reformers at the time when he was being paid as an employee as Catholic Schools NSW, but claimed to only have done so after completing all his other work.

"Some people go online shopping, I do factional work," he said.

Mr Assaf said at times he would "chuck a sickie" to do work for the Reformers.

Jean Claude Perrottet
Jean Claude Perrottet is accused of being part of the branch-stacking operation. (Paul Miller/AAP PHOTOS)

During the tense grilling, ICAC announced on Friday Jean Claude Perrottet, the younger brother of former premier Dominic Perrottet, would be in the witness box on Tuesday.

He is accused of being part of the branch-stacking operation through a ramping up of memberships in the Hills Shire Council area and funnelling undeclared funds to hidden accounts.

When the allegations first surfaced in 2022 and a subsequent parliamentary inquiry was established in 2023, Mr Perrottet travelled to Fiji to avoid fronting the inquiry.

The Hills Shire is where alleged political moves were designed to benefit the business interests of fugitive property developer Jean Nassif, who is also being investigated.

Jean Nassif
Jean Nassif is at the centre of a corruption inquiry investigating illicit political donations. (HANDOUT/NSW POLICE)

Veteran Liberal MP Damien Tudehope has been called to give evidence and is due to appear in the witness box on Monday.

Mr Assaf will also return on Monday to conclude his evidence.

Three key allegations of corrupt conduct are being investigated by the inquiry, driven by "the confluence of personal greed and political ambitions".

At the centre of them is Nassif, pursued by NSW Police after a two-year fraud investigation.

Nassif is believed to be living in Lebanon and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

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