Date: 1 July 2026

The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption has announced a public inquiry as part of its Operation Rosny investigation.

While the investigation spans allegations involving Liberal Party figures, a property developer, and a Catholic schools executive, a specific allegation directly involves elected members of Strathfield Council.

The ICAC announcement states that Strathfield Councillors Sharangan Maheswaran and Karen Pensabene are alleged to have engaged in conduct toward fellow councillor Matthew Blackmore that could involve the dishonest or partial exercise of their official functions, a breach of public trust, and conduct that could amount to blackmail and possible breaches of the Surveillance Devices Act 2007.

The allegation is listed separately from the electoral funding matters that form the core of Operation Rosny, and will be examined as part of the same public inquiry before Assistant Commissioner the Hon Fabian Gleeson SC.

The public hearing will be held at the ICAC’s hearing room at 255 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, commencing at 10am on 27 July 2026. Proceedings will also be available via live stream on the ICAC website.

The ICAC has emphasised that findings of corrupt conduct have not yet been made. All persons named remain entitled to the presumption of innocence.