ICAC inquiry continues as Obeids claim no knowledge of secret government documents found in their possession Moses Obeid leaving the ICAC inquiry yesterday. Picture: Anthony Reginato Source: The Daily Telegraph AS his mother claimed to "know nothing" of the deals behind the family wealth, Moses Obeid was yesterday unable to explain how secret documents from former NSW primary industries minister Ian Macdonald's department were found on his brother's desk. Ahead of what is expected to be the biggest week in ICAC's history - with both Eddie Obeid and Mr Macdonald to take the stand in coming days - it was also revealed the Mt Penny holding at the centre of corruption allegations could still be worth $100 million to the Obeid family. In the stand for a second day of evidence to the inquiry, Moses Obeid couldn't explain why confidential maps - seen by only a handful of staff inside Mr Macdonald's primary industries department - were found by ICAC investigators during a raid on the Obeid family offices at Birkenhead Point in November 2011. The two maps of the Mt Penny area were found in Paul Obeid's office, the inquiry heard. Do you have any way of explaining how a confidential document, only handled by senior officers in the DPI and Ian Macdonald, came into the possession of the Obeid family? Geoffrey Watson SC, counsel assisting the inquiry, asked. "I didn't know it was in our possession, I can't explain it if I've never seen it," Moses Obeid replied. The inquiry heard Mr Macdonald created the Mt Penny tenement in the Bylong Valley, contrary to his department's advice, in June 2008 - shortly after a breakfast meeting with Moses Obeid. ICAC is investigating allegations Mr Macdonald passed on inside information to the family and rigged the tender process when reopening the exploration licence applications - decisions that placed the family in a position to make "giant windfall profits" of up to $100 million. "A person could look at what Macdonald did and think that what he did was conferring a great benefit on the Obeid family," Mr Watson said to him. Can you explain away that inference, can you tell us why Macdonald did this apart from that? " (The family) acquired that property without any knowledge of any coal being there," Moses Obeid replied. The family still hold nearly a 10 per cent share in Cascade Coal, because a second payment of $30 million to them to get out of the licence defaulted, ICAC heard. The Mt Penny holding was valued at $500 million when it was subject to an exploration licence, but that could increase to $1 billion if a mining licence was granted. After a stint in the ICAC stand that lasted more than eight hours in total, Moses Obeid was replaced in the box by his mother Judith, 72. Despite being listed as a director of the Obeid family trust, the softly-spoken woman spent most of her 30 minutes in the stand repeating the words "I haven't any idea" about the family wealth. "I don't make decisions," she said, adding she is paid money by Eddie Obeid as she needs it and uses a Visa card. She said she "hadn't the faintest idea" why a $300,000 payment was made to her loan account with the description of "Roc loan for dad." ICAC alleges that relates to the payment made by the family's business associate Rocco Triulcio to the Obeids for the Donola property, which neighbours Cherrydale Park. ICAC was told last week some of the profits made by the family for the sale of their stake in the mining venture were used on the deposit of a waterfront home in Woolwich, purchased in Mrs Obeid's name. "Do you know where the $407,500 [deposit] came from," Mr Watson asked. "I certainly don't, my sons would know that," she replied. Mr Obeid will be the commission's first witness on Monday. Mr Macdonald is expected to take the stand on Thursday.