ICAC to investigate Sydney councillors

The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption will hold a public inquiry to determine if three southern Sydney councillors took kickbacks to favour developments.

Operation Galley will investigate the conduct of former Georges River Council and Hurstville City Council councillors, Constantine Hindi and Vincenzo Badalati, as well as then HCC councillor Philip Sansom.

In 2016 the former Kogarah and Hurstville city councils were merged to create Georges River Council.

ICAC is investigating whether, between 2014 and 2021, then HCC and later GRC councillors Hindi and Badalati, and then HCC Cr Sansom, "sought and/or accepted benefits as an inducement or reward for partially and dishonestly exercising their official functions" to favour certain developments.

ICAC said on Wednesday it would determine if the trio favoured the interests of Ching Wah (Philip) Uy, Wensheng Liu and Yuqing Liu, in relation to planning that affected 1-5 Treacy Street and 1 Hill Road, Hurstville ("the Treacy Street development"), and 53-57 Forest Road, 108-126 Durham Street and 9 Roberts Lane, Hurstville ("the Landmark Square development").

The commission will also examine whether the three councillors deliberately failed to declare or properly manage any conflict of interest arising from their relationships with Ching Wah Uy, Wensheng Liu and Yuqing Liu.

ICAC is also investigating whether the developers provided benefits, including overseas flights and accommodation, to the councillors as a reward or inducement to favour their interests.

Commissioner Stephen Rushton SC will preside at the public inquiry and counsel assisting the commission will be Zelie Heger.

The inquiry will start on June 14 and is expected to take five weeks.