A Supreme Court jury found Obeid guilty on June 28 of misconduct in public office over his family's secret business dealings at Circular Quay. The Crown is pushing for a jail sentence.

Most of the references presented at his sentence hearing on Thursday from family members, business associates, religious officials, friends and prominent members of the community provided glowing testimonials about the former MP.

There was Wally Wehbe, who made no mention of the fact that he and Obeid are long-time business partners in numerous ventures, including the Bellevue Function Centre in Bankstown.

Writing on behalf of the Australian Lebanese Christian Foundation, Mr Wehbe said: "our member [sic] and executive have always found Mr Obeid to be open, honest ,generous and genuine".

The ALCF, which was founded by Obeid in 1986, has had a chequered history. The other founding members were Hani Taouk, a brothel owner who was jailed for trying to bribe a judge, John Abi-Saab and Michael Sakloui who were found to be corrupt by ICAC after they bribed the then mayor of Strathfield, Alfred Tsang.

And Mr Wehbe himself later received an unfavourable character assessment by Federal Court Justice Ian Sheppard who said: "Mr Wehbe is dishonest or otherwise not of good character."

Transport and construction entrepreneur George Ghossayn, another founding member of ACLF, also provided a character reference for Obeid whom he described as a "champion of the underprivileged".

"The nature of the offence is surprising as I have always found Mr Obeid to be a selfless person," Mr Ghossayn said.

Property developer Joe Khattar, president of the Australian Lebanese Chamber of Commerce, said Obeid had been a pillar of the Lebanese community and had carried out his duties with honesty and integrity.

South Sydney Rabbitohs stalwart George Piggins wrote of the ongoing assistance Obeid had provided when the club was struggling to survive.

Former Souths player Garry Ross, who describes himself as the current world record holder in three different weightlifting challenges, said: "I believe that Mr Obeid has been treated unfairly by the media in this case … I also would ask you to take into consideration that his family name has been damaged considerably" and that he and his family have "suffered terribly" as a result of the guilty verdict.

George Coorey, currently a director of Canterbury Leagues Club, spoke of his astonishment that Obeid had been found guilty "knowing his personal qualities and character".

Mr Coorey's brother Arthur, at the time a Bulldogs director, was a central witness at a 2002 ICAC inquiry, which examined whether Arthur Coorey had been used by his friend – Obeid – as a go-between to have the leagues club pay the state ALP a $1 million bribe to win the government's approval for the struggling Oasis project.

This suggestion was hotly denied in the witness box by Mr Coorey, who described it as a "horrible lie".

Both Arthur Coorey and Eddie Obeid were cleared of any wrongdoing.

Another to give a glowing testimonial on behalf of his friend Obeid was one-time bankrupt and former bookmaker-turned-property developer Robert Oayda who said in his reference: "I genuinely hope that Eddie will one day get the vindication that I believe he deserves."

Obeid's lawyers say the 73-year-old, who suffered a stroke earlier this year, has a "limited life expectancy" and should not be sent to jail for his crime.

Obeid will be sentenced on December 15.