During a hearing at the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in New South Wales, Sydney real estate agent Mohammad Abedin faced questions regarding the origin of a formal statement he submitted to the watchdog. The inquiry is currently investigating allegations of blackmail involving a former Labor councillor, Sharangan Maheswaran.

Abedin testified that he utilized the artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT to assist in drafting his statement. He explicitly denied claims that the document was written by Maheswaran. The inquiry highlighted a discrepancy regarding a file titled “Mohammad Abedin statement.docx,” which was reportedly sent to the lawyer witnessing the statement by Maheswaran himself. When questioned about why the document was in the possession of the councillor, Abedin stated he could not explain the file transfer but maintained that he was the author of the content.

The proceedings are part of a broader investigation into potential misconduct. While Abedin admitted to using AI software to prepare his testimony, he faced scrutiny over his lack of evidence regarding other allegations presented during the session. The inquiry continues to examine the relationship between the parties involved and the circumstances surrounding the creation of the disputed statement.