Mixed martial arts fighter Jimmy Kendrovski fears telling the truth at the unions royal commission will put his family in danger following his recent jail bashing.
Kendrovski was beaten up in Sydney's Parklea jail on Friday after being called to give evidence on the workings of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) and companies linked to underworld figure George Alex.
Counsel assisting the commission Jeremy Stoljar on Monday asked Kendrovski at least four times if he had ever seen Mr Alex or Joe Antoun, a career criminal who was shot dead outside his family home in December, hand money to CFMEU officials.
"No," Kendrovski, a former business associate of Mr Alex's, responded each time.
"(Are you) telling me and the commission as much as you truthfully can with regards to your safety and that of your family," Mr Stoljar said.
"If you didn't have those fears, might you be saying something else?"
After eight seconds of silence, an agitated Kendrovski replied "I can't comment."
Commissioner Dyson Heydon asked why Kendrovski couldn't comment.
"Because I have a wife and three kids outside on their own and I just can't comment on it," he said.
"I am being as truthful as I can."
When pressed about whether being bashed in jail had affected his evidence, Kendrovski said "nup".
The inquest is probing whether NSW CFMEU officers "received secret commissions or other benefits arising from arrangements or understandings with Mr Alex and companies associated with him."
Kendrovski began working with Mr Alex in mid 2011 for a company called Active Labour.
Documents tendered in the hearing show at least $2,500 was being paid out weekly by the company, for what several witnesses agreed were union payments.
"It used to get given to George (Alex) or Joe (Antoun)," Kendrovski said.
And like all other witnesses on Monday, he said he didn't know what happened to the money once it was paid.
Kendrovski repeatedly said he never saw any money handed to any union official by Mr Antoun or Mr Alex.
CFMEU site delegate Jose Barrios told the commission he had received a threatening call from Mr Alex last month.
"He said words to the effect of `I want to come and see you or visit you. I want to know why you are talking so much s*** about me'," Mr Barrios said.
The threat came the day after Mr Barrios complained to NSW CFMEU secretary Brian Parker about the union endorsing an enterprise bargaining agreement for a company linked to Mr Alex.
"I don't believe that this guy can put his name on any paper work to do with business," Mr Barrios said.
The hearing continues.
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