What was Ibrahim Helmy accused of doing?

Ibrahim Helmy is accused of masterminding a corruption racket, receiving millions in kickbacks for inflating invoices on Transport for NSW contracts.

Where was the fugitive Ibrahim Helmy found?

After a four-month search, Ibrahim Helmy was found hiding in a cupboard in a rented unit in Lakemba.

How much money was involved in the Transport for NSW kickback scandal?

The alleged kickback scheme involved at least $343 million in contracts, with the official accused of pocketing $11.5 million.

Home / Crime and Justice / Fugitive Public Servant Caught Hiding in Cupboard

Fugitive Public Servant Caught Hiding in Cupboard

21 Nov, 2025

•

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.

Fugitive Public Servant Caught Hiding in Cupboard

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.