Alfred Tsang

Alfred Tsang (traditional Chinese: 曾子崇) was the former mayor of the Municipality of Strathfield in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Early career

Tsang was formerly a staff at IBM, 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.

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 Party 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." [Sexton, Jennifer (February 5, 2005). " [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,12116686%255E28737,00.html Machinations and the mayor] ". "The Australian"] 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 800m² council-owned carpark, [Sexton, Jennifer (December 20, 2004). " [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,11737987%255E601,00.html Video cash mayor steps down] ". "The Australian"] 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. [ [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,12116686%255E28737,00.html] ] 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." [Strathfield Municipal Council, [http://www.strathfield.nsw.gov.au/council/22/1031552093_14092.html Message from the Mayor of Strathfield, Cr Alfred Tsang] . Retrieved January 20, 2005] 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." [ [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,11737987%255E601,00.html] ] Strathfield council soon afterwards released a press statement that it "will not and does not" tolerate misconduct. [cite news
title =Mayor stands down over cash wad claim
publisher =The Sydney Morning Herald
date =20 December 2004
url =http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Mayor-faces-suspension-of-cash-wad-claim/2004/12/20/1103391680082.html
accessdate = 2007-05-20 ] 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." [cite news
first=Tim
last=Dick
title =Mayor stands down over cash wad claim
publisher =The Sydney Morning Herald
date =25 February 2005
url =http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Charge-the-lot-of-them-says-ICAC/2005/02/24/1109180048892.html
accessdate = 2007-05-20 ]

Tsang has stated that he took the cash in a moment of confused shock and gave it back the next day. [cite news
first=Tim
last=Dick
title =Mayor culpa
publisher =The Sydney Morning Herald
date =12 February 2005
url =http://smh.com.au/news/National/Mayor-culpa/2005/02/11/1108061869828.html
accessdate = 2007-05-20 ] On 16 February 2005, Tsang stepped down as leader of the Unity party. Tsang faces trial on the matter on the 26th October, 2007.

References