Alfred Tsang
Encyclopedia
Alfred Tsang was the former mayor of the Municipality of Strathfield
in Sydney
, New South Wales
, Australia
.
, and also ran his own chain of restaurants known as "I love sushi". After Tsang became leader of the Unity Party
, he was elected to Strathfield council in 2000 and was made deputy mayor in September 2003. He became mayor on 14 April 2004.
and the party "spent almost $100,000 fighting last year's election, with $84,500 of that donated by local developers, electoral funding records show." Alfred Tsang, of the Unity Party
, was elected to Strathfield Council in March 2003. Tsang was seen as a threat by various Lebanese developers as he overturned various rezoning that had been arranged by the previous Labor party. It is alleged by Tsang that Labor councillor John Abi-Saab and state member of parliament and Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid
set him up for accepting a bribe.
On 20 December 2004, Tsang was forced to stepped down over allegations of corruption. Pictures had been published in The Australian
of him accepting $2,500 in $100 bills from a developer, Michael Saklaoui, at a Cabarita restaurant on 23 July 2004. It was not initially clear why the money was given to him though it was alleged that he was talking to Mr Saklawi about the redevelopment of an 800 m2 council-owned carpark, however it was later revealed to be payment for rezoning the council car park and three adjoining houses for the benefit of developer Michael Saklaoui. Mr Tsang had previously released a statement that "Councils need to take leadership roles in this area, we simply cannot continue to support unsustainable development, for the sake of our children, grandchildren and the future environment, we need to make changes now." According to The Australian he was heard to have said that "Basically, we get it for nothing," Mr Tsang says. "I am making Strathfield a better place ... I am doing it for the area." Strathfield council soon afterwards released a press statement that it "will not and does not" tolerate misconduct. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is currently investigating whether claims developers were given inside information about land rezoning proposals put to Strathfield Council have any substance and the pictures taken by The Australian were handed to them for further investigation. Councel for the prosecution, Michael King, SC stated that "Cr Tsang had "no hesitation" in pocketing the wad of cash and bribes, he said, "although he was careful as he did so to look around to see whether the payment had been observed by anyone else". He gave "on oath what can reasonably be described as a ludicrous exculpatory explanation" of his actions, by saying he was "confused" and too embarrassed to refuse the money."
Tsang has stated that he took the cash in a moment of confused shock and gave it back the next day. On 16 February 2005, Tsang stepped down as leader of the Unity party. Tsang faces trial on the matter on 26 October 2007.
Municipality of Strathfield
The Municipality of Strathfield is a Local Government Area of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Municipality incorporates the suburbs of Flemington, Homebush, Homebush West, Strathfield South entirely, and shares the following suburbs with other Councils, Belfield, Greenacre, and Strathfield...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Early career
Tsang was formerly a staff at IBMIBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
, and also ran his own chain of restaurants known as "I love sushi". After Tsang became leader of the Unity Party
Unity Party (Australia)
Unity Party is a small multiculturist party in Australia, formed in 1997 with the aim of opposing the rise of controversial anti-immigration politician Pauline Hanson. Initially billed as a party to unite Australians of all ethnicities against racism, in practice it has never managed to draw...
, he was elected to Strathfield council in 2000 and was made deputy mayor in September 2003. He became mayor on 14 April 2004.
Political life
Sydney's Inner West (which includes the Municipality of Strathfield) has long been an area where lots of development has been undergoing and competition amongst developers has been intense. According to The Australian, they were known to strongly lobby the Australian Labor PartyAustralian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
and the party "spent almost $100,000 fighting last year's election, with $84,500 of that donated by local developers, electoral funding records show." Alfred Tsang, of the Unity Party
Unity Party (Australia)
Unity Party is a small multiculturist party in Australia, formed in 1997 with the aim of opposing the rise of controversial anti-immigration politician Pauline Hanson. Initially billed as a party to unite Australians of all ethnicities against racism, in practice it has never managed to draw...
, was elected to Strathfield Council in March 2003. Tsang was seen as a threat by various Lebanese developers as he overturned various rezoning that had been arranged by the previous Labor party. It is alleged by Tsang that Labor councillor John Abi-Saab and state member of parliament and Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid
Eddie Obeid
Edward Moses Obeid OAM , a former Australian politician, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council who served between 1991 and 2011, representing the Australian Labor Party. He was the Minister for Fisheries and the Minister for Mineral Resources from 1999–2003...
set him up for accepting a bribe.
On 20 December 2004, Tsang was forced to stepped down over allegations of corruption. Pictures had been published in The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
of him accepting $2,500 in $100 bills from a developer, Michael Saklaoui, at a Cabarita restaurant on 23 July 2004. It was not initially clear why the money was given to him though it was alleged that he was talking to Mr Saklawi about the redevelopment of an 800 m2 council-owned carpark, however it was later revealed to be payment for rezoning the council car park and three adjoining houses for the benefit of developer Michael Saklaoui. Mr Tsang had previously released a statement that "Councils need to take leadership roles in this area, we simply cannot continue to support unsustainable development, for the sake of our children, grandchildren and the future environment, we need to make changes now." According to The Australian he was heard to have said that "Basically, we get it for nothing," Mr Tsang says. "I am making Strathfield a better place ... I am doing it for the area." Strathfield council soon afterwards released a press statement that it "will not and does not" tolerate misconduct. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is currently investigating whether claims developers were given inside information about land rezoning proposals put to Strathfield Council have any substance and the pictures taken by The Australian were handed to them for further investigation. Councel for the prosecution, Michael King, SC stated that "Cr Tsang had "no hesitation" in pocketing the wad of cash and bribes, he said, "although he was careful as he did so to look around to see whether the payment had been observed by anyone else". He gave "on oath what can reasonably be described as a ludicrous exculpatory explanation" of his actions, by saying he was "confused" and too embarrassed to refuse the money."
Tsang has stated that he took the cash in a moment of confused shock and gave it back the next day. On 16 February 2005, Tsang stepped down as leader of the Unity party. Tsang faces trial on the matter on 26 October 2007.