The state's corruption watchdog is investigating NSW transport employee Ibrahim Helmy for allegedly inflating government contracts and pocketing over $11 million in kickbacks from contractors. Helmy is currently missing, but authorities believe he is still in the country.

Council of the City of Sydney

The New South Wales corruption watchdog is investigating Ibrahim Helmi, a former transport employee, for allegedly manipulating tenders and inflating invoices related to regional road work contracts. Helmi is accused of receiving more than $11 million in kickbacks from contractors, with evidence including cash, precious metals, and cryptocurrency traced to his accounts and those of family members.

Authorities discovered detailed records of the alleged corrupt activities, including an Excel spreadsheet tracking inflated contracts and kickbacks. Helmi was dismissed from his position and is currently on the run, with a warrant issued for his arrest after he failed to appear before the commission. It is believed he remains in the country.

NSW Transport worker allegedly inflated contracts, pocketed millions

As the Premier unveils a plan to precast concrete for the new Western Harbour Tunnel... Never before in the history of New South Wales has so much money been invested in infrastructure in this state. The corruption watchdog is investigating where that money is actually going, probing the alleged actions of Ibrahim Helmi, a transport employee who secured contractors for regional road work. He was able to exercise a degree of effective end-to-end control over relevant procurements. He's accused of manipulating tenders and inflating invoices, allegedly then paid a cut of what contractors overcharged taxpayers. In exchange for the benefits that he received, Mr Helmi engaged in a wide range of corrupt practices. It's claimed he received more than $11 million, a search of his home, uncovering cash, counting machines, as well as gold, silver and platinum, while $8 million in crypto was tracked to an account in his sister's name. Perhaps the most significant find for ICAC investigators though was an Excel spreadsheet. It appears Mr Helmi kept detailed records of how much contracts were inflated by, and the kickbacks he received. Jason Chelu's barrier company received nearly $100 million in work. He admits paying Helmi crypto, cash and gold. If we said no, then we wouldn't have got no work, we'd be out for nothing. Fired from transport in February, Helmi is on the run. He fronted questioning at ICAC last September, but it wasn't finished. Despite handing over his passport, in December he was stopped at the airport trying to fly to China on an American document. He was released and told to return to the commission in May, but he didn't show. A warrant is now out for his arrest. A family member has told the commission that Mr Helmi took the rubbish out on a Sunday night and did not return. The family has not reported him missing. It's believed he is still in the country. Lachlan Kennedy, 10 News.

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Breakdown