A Sydney mayor aimed to 'destroy' a senior council manager by leaking a CD showing he accessed pornography on a work computer, the corruption watchdog has been told.
In a taped phone call played to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Tuesday, Ryde Mayor Ivan Petch details his plan to embarrass council general manager John Neish out of office by leaking details of his browsing history, contained on a CD.
The CD was provided to Mr Petch by council IT staff, who discovered the misuse while removing a virus.
"It will destroy him absolutely," Mr Petch said of Mr Neish's browsing history in the recorded conversation.
"If this goes to the national press, which will quite accidentally happen, it will be everywhere, his name.
"He will have to leave town."
Mr Petch wanted Mr Neish removed as he wouldn't delay a redevelopment process under which 600 units would be built on council land, the commission was told.
Half an hour after Mr Petch was first recorded speaking of his plans, he called journalist Robbie Patterson, who covered the Ryde council for a local newspaper.
"I've got another f***ing bombshell mate," Mr Petch told Mr Patterson.
"You know what Neish does in his after hours when he's doing nothing? He surfs the net for porn."
Mr Patterson's paper did not run the story, but Mr Neish did resign from office fearing a media backlash.
The ICAC hearing is expected to last another week as several other members of the Ryde council are investigated for failing to declare conflicts of interest and receiving political donations in the form of election advertising.
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