He fought to keep criminal charges against him secret but former NSW mining minister Ian Macdonald has been revealed as the second Labor identity charged over a multimillion-dollar coal deal at the centre of an explosive corruption inquiry.
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Fairfax Media previously revealed that Eddie Obeid and his entrepreneurial middle son, Moses, were quietly charged last yearover a $30 million coal deal involving their family property at Mount Penny in the Bylong Valley.
The charges were suppressed to ensure Obeid snr, 72, suffered no prejudice in his recent criminal trial in the NSW Supreme Court over his business dealings at Circular Quay.
The former Labor powerbroker was convicted of misconduct in public office in June and the Crown is pushing for a jail sentence.
Mr Macdonald, who was mining minister at the time a lucrative coal tenement was created over the Obeids' property, was also charged last year over the Mount Penny deal and faces allegations of misconduct in public office.
His legal team fought to keep the charges secret on the basis it could prejudice his trial early next year on unrelated charges stemming from a separate inquiry by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
But Local Court magistrate Jennifer Atkinson rejected the application on Tuesday, saying there was a "public interest in open justice".
All three men were to face a committal hearing in August to test the strength of the prosecution's case and determine if they should stand trial for the offences.
But the five-day hearing has been delayed until December 5 after the court heard Obeid senior had suffered an "acute stroke".
Obeid snr's health has also delayed his sentencing over his business dealings at Circular Quay.
Subject to further medical evidence, his hearing on sentencing is slated for October 6
