SA court told Ibtisam Dimachki bribed her son, corrupt driving instructor Jawad Joe Dimachki, in his cash for licences scam

One of the people who bribed corrupt driving instructor Jawad Joe Dimachki during his “cash for licences” scam was his own mother, a court has heard.

Jawad Joe Dimachki’s mother, Ibtisam Dimachki, is accused of offering him bribes during his “cash for licences” scam. Picture: Tricia Watkinson.

• ‘Cash for licences’: Corrupt driving instructor’s scheme revealed
• Clients of corrupt driving instructor dodge jail over licence scam

One of the people who bribed corrupt driving instructor Jawad Joe Dimachki during his “cash for licences” scam was his own mother, a court has heard.

Ibtisam Dimachki, 63, of Newton, has been charged with multiple corruption and bribery offences arising from investigations into her son’s illicit activities.

She was due to face the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday but did not appear – her lawyer, Harry Patsouris, asked her absence be excused.

“I’ve just spoken to her, she’s unwell … she’s not on bail,” he said.

“This matter has a long history … my client’s son has other matters in the District Court.”

Ibtisam Dimachki has yet to plead to three counts of aiding and abetting a public officer to exercise power in order to secure a benefit.

She is charged with a further three counts of offering a bribe to a public officer.

Court documents allege the offences occurred on July 20, July 29 and August 26, 2017, and that Ibtisam Dimachki worked as a driving instructor.

Jawad Joe Dimachki, 36, of Daw Park, is currently on bail awaiting sentencing submissions in the District Court.

He entered early guilty pleas to 10 corruption counts – in a plea bargain deal that saw a further 99 charges dropped – in order to secure a maximum 40 per cent sentencing discount.

Previously, the District Court heard Jawad Joe Dimachki issued licences to young people without making them sit tests in exchange for cash bribes.

In one case, he certified a licence for a young driver without ever meeting them.

That driver, Abdul Kajani, and the friend who paid for his licence, Ethan Quadros, received suspended sentences for their offending.

Many of Jawad Joe Dimachki’s clients – including Abeir Bassam Said – have received fines and good behaviour bonds over their illicit licences.

On Thursday, police prosecutors told the Adelaide Magistrates Court their case against Ibtisam Dimachki was progressing.

They asked it be adjourned for eight weeks to allow for the finalisation of evidence, and for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to determine the charges going forward.

They also asked Ibtisam Dimachki be placed on bail – a request Magistrate Elizabeth Sheppard agreed was appropriate, but said would be difficult to grant.

“She isn’t here, and she did not appear in court on the last occasion, either … we will have to see where the next occasion goes,” she said.

“I do require her to be here on the next occasion.”

She adjourned the case until March.

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