“While there has been intense media interest in Mr [Rodney Adler]’s release and many requests for interviews, none has involved discussion of any payment whatsoever and none will,” the statement said.

Yesterday several of the Adler children brought cold drinks, chocolate cake and strawberries to the mansion’s front gate for media staking out the residence. When asked how it was to have her father back home, daughter Natalie burst into a big smile and said: “It’s great.”

Adler, who will spend the next two months on parole for his role in the collapse of insurer HIH, can expect continuing attention from the corporate watchdog, which will also be keeping a keen eye on the 40th floor of the Australia Square office tower in Sydney’s CBD.

EASTERN Sydney’s most famous ex-con, Rodney Adler, enjoyed his first full day of freedom after 2 1/2 years in jail brunching with his family at a Potts Point eatery and relaxing in the garden of his multi-million-dollar Vaucluse pile.

He also found time to issue a statement through a public relations firm, vigorously denying he was shopping his story to television networks, after being released on Saturday from St Heliers Correctional Centre at Muswellbrook, in the NSW Hunter Valley.

“While there has been intense media interest in Mr Adler’s release and many requests for interviews, none has involved discussion of any payment whatsoever and none will,” the statement said.

“His priority now is to reconnect with his family and friends, and resume normal family life.”

Plans for a book about his life and crimes were also hosed down in publicity consultant Robyn Sefiani’s statement.

“While Mr Adler has received a number of approaches about a book, no decision has been made in this regard,” it said.

Yesterday several of the Adler children brought cold drinks, chocolate cake and strawberries to the mansion’s front gate for media staking out the residence. When asked how it was to have her father back home, daughter Natalie burst into a big smile and said: “It’s great.”

Adler, who will spend the next two months on parole for his role in the collapse of insurer HIH, can expect continuing attention from the corporate watchdog, which will also be keeping a keen eye on the 40th floor of the Australia Square office tower in Sydney’s CBD.

A string of companies associated with Adler — who in 2002 was banned from managing corporations for 20 years — and his wife Lyndi are currently operating out of suite 4001 in the building.

The office, where Mrs Adler and her personal assistant are currently based, is home to Tesla Investments — an operating venture capital fund.

Adler had operated a string of venture capital funds before being jailed in 2005 over his conduct as a director of insurance giant HIH, which collapsed spectacularly in March 2001.

Adler, 47, was listed as the operator of Tesla Investments until February last year, when a company owned and directed by friend William Sweeney took control.

Mr Sweeney is an accountant who works for firm PKF Australia. When The Australian visited the Australia Square office, the paper was told Mr Sweeney did not work in the building. Mr Sweeney, who is currently overseas on leave from PKF, was unavailable for comment.