September 4, 2026 — 6:34pmSee what we learnt from Operation Rosny week five here. The popcorn bags were unfolded and placed in the microwave in readiness for a hotly anticipated appearance from a star witness when word went around that Jean Nassif would not be gracing the Independent Commission Against Corruption with his presence. Not for another week, at least.While the audiovisual link to Lebanon is on hold for now, and the fugitive property developer is optimistically listed to appear later in the month, the ICAC spent the past week prising answers from Charles Perrottet, once-favourite brother of former premier Dominic.Charles Perrottet outside the ICAC on Friday.Louie DouvisThe ICAC’s Operation Rosny is examining three main allegations concerning the inner workings of sections of the NSW Liberal Party, Catholic Schools NSW and business figures in Sydney. Here are five of the key things we learnt in week six.Doctor, doctor, give me the newsNassif had been due to appear on Friday via video link from Lebanon, where he has been since fleeing Australia in December 2022.Jean Nassif has been at the centre of the inquiry, but is yet to appear.Monique WestermannThere is a warrant out for his arrest on serious fraud charges, which makes a return to Australia unlikely.Counsel assisting Dr Peggy Dwyer, SC, told the commission late on Tuesday that Nassif had provided a medical certificate but that he wanted to reschedule his appearance.On Friday evening, the ICAC updated its witness list again: Nassif is on the list for Monday, September 14, health permitting.The secret recordingsNassif’s voice was heard, however, when phone tap recordings played to the ICAC showed him bragging about the influence he believed he had in the state government. The brags included that Dominic Perrottet was his “boy”, and they came as Charles Perrottet was giving Nassif updates about the success of the right faction of the Liberal Party. Perrottet denied ever offering political outcomes in exchange for payments.New audio emerged, too, during examination of a plot to smear then-police minister David Elliott, an enemy of Nassif’s and a factional opponent of Charles Perrottet and other targets of the inquiry.But the words were difficult to hear over a rhythmic sound that Dwyer said was probably a heartbeat and suggested the use of a “recording device”.Perrottet said he did not know how he came to possess the covertly recorded audio file of Elliott.Lies, lies and evidence to the ICACCharles Perrottet told the commission during the week that he would add “political flavour” to his discussions with Nassif, and misled him into giving more money. Perrottet said he was lying when he told Nassif he was “working on it” after the developer asked for his help to get the building commissioner off his back.Anita Perrottet giving evidence before the ICAC on August 28.ICACHe also acknowledged that he may not have told his wife, Anita, the whole truth about the arrangement whereby her consulting company would be paid for advice he was providing.It culminated in this exchange on Friday, Dwyer asking: “But you know, don’t you, that in the witness box in this commission, you are obliged to tell the truth by law 100 per cent of the time?”Perrottet: “I’m aware.”Dwyer: “I’m suggesting that you have repeatedly given false evidence under oath and you have encouraged your wife Anita to give false evidence under oath.”Perrottet denied this.During cross-examination, he said he had been honest about his lies.“I’ve accepted where I lied and misled people. That does not make me to be a dishonest person,” Perrottet said.Damp squibs and wet fishPerrottet was grilled about an alleged extortion attempt against Nassif’s company Toplace for $5 million supposedly by the building commissioner.The inquiry heard that even though Perrottet had known of the extortion details for an entire year, he did nothing.Presiding commissioner Fabian Gleeson, SC, struggled with Perrottet’s failure to report this potentially criminal offence.“You say you thought it was a credible extortion attempt but you don’t refer it to the police or ICAC? So, what? It’s just a wet fish, is it? It just goes nowhere?” Gleeson said.Perrottet told the ICAC it never occurred to him that the extortion texts sent to Nassif could have been fake.This has nothing to do with DominicThe former premier’s name has been mentioned a fair bit. Two of his brothers and a sister-in-law have appeared as witnesses, and some of the time of the alleged wrongdoing coincides with his political ascent. But there has never been any suggestion of wrongdoing by Dominic Perrottet.There is also no allegation against former fair trading minister Eleni Petinos, who appeared as a witness in relation to Nassif’s attempts to depose former building commission chief David Chandler.Gleeson made the ICAC’s position clear: “I’ll just indicate for the transcript that neither Eleni Petinos nor Dominic Perrottet is a person of interest in this inquiry.”More to come …Next week promises a bit more variety. Lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood makes his return, after appearing for much of week three, on Monday and Tuesday. Former Labor councillor Sharangan Maheswaran is down for Wednesday and Thursday, while his political nemesis, one-time independent Strathfield mayor Matthew Blackmore, is slated for Friday.And after that, Nassif. Popcorn on standby.With Kate McClymont and Bevan ShieldsFrom our partners