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Fugitive Public Servant Caught Hiding in Cupboard
21 Nov
Summary
- Official allegedly masterminded a $343 million contract racket.
- He pocketed $11.5 million in kickbacks over 12 years.
- Fugitive found hiding in a cupboard after a four-month search.
Ibrahim Helmy, a former graduate program participant at NSW's roads agency, is accused of orchestrating a significant corruption scheme. The alleged racket involved inflating invoices for work on Sydney's M4 motorway, with Helmy receiving kickbacks totaling $11.5 million. Over a 12-year period, nine companies reportedly secured contracts valued at least $343 million through these improper deals.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiry chronicled the alleged wrongdoing, detailing Helmy's meticulous record-keeping of contracts and kickbacks. Five other Transport for NSW officials are also implicated in the scandal. The investigation involved a extensive search for Helmy after he disappeared in May.
After a four-month manhunt, authorities apprehended Helmy in September, finding him hiding in a cupboard at a rented unit in Lakemba. He was subsequently brought before the ICAC inquiry, where he admitted to watching the hearings via livestream while in hiding.
