Liberal power brokers left phones in car to avoid tracing before discussing corruption probe, Icac hears

Robert Assaf, the first witness from the conservative right Liberal factional group to give evidence, appeared before the Icac on Monday. Photograph: Damian Shaw/AAP

Members of a group of young conservative Liberal power brokers accused of soliciting illegal donations held meetings to discuss their appearance before the New South Wales corruption watchdog, potentially breaching the law, an inquiry has heard.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) began the second of eight weeks of hearings as part of Operation Rosny on Monday.