A ‘grubby rumour’ and a $5m extortion attempt: former Toplace executive gives Icac evidence

Sharangan Maheswaran also told inquiry his bid for story on unsubstantiated rumour about then-Liberal minister David Elliott was ‘not a serious offer’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA purported $5 million extortion attempt of fugitive property developer Jean Nassif was actually a genuine request for his company Toplace to pay a contractor, a lawyer assisting the New South Wales anti-corruption watchdog has argued.Former Toplace lawyer and executive Sharangan Maheswaran told the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) on Wednesday he had not “dishonestly conveyed” to the building commissioner, David