The NSW corruption watchdog has announced an inquiry into the conduct of employees of Transport for NSW and a local council in Sydney’s inner west for alleged rorting of contracts and tenders.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption is investigating allegations relating to events between 2014 and 2021 including:

• That former Leichhardt Council and Inner West Council employee Tony Nguyen recommended and awarded council contracts to companies he was associated with
• That TfNSW officer Nima Abdi helped contractors with which he had an undeclared association tender for TfNSW work
• That some employees of Downer EDI Works obtained a benefit by favouring certain subcontractors when awarding work arising from contracts awarded by  TfNSW
• That TfNSW employee Raja Sanber did contractor or subcontractor work for various entities on TfNSW projects, without disclosing his role in those entities to TfNSW
• That TfNSW employees and a Downer employee submitted and approved fake timesheets and invoices

Chief ICAC Commissioner the Hon John Hatzistergos will lead the inquiry, which is expected to run for six weeks beginning on March 20.