Sir Joseph Banks High School principal Rabieh Gharibeh bailed on $1.4m fraud charges

Police have revealed in court exactly what prompted an investigation into a building scam that has seen the Sir Joseph Banks High School principal charged with serious fraud offences.

Joseph Banks High School principal Rabieh Gharibeh. Picture: Supplied

An anonymous letter sent to the NSW Department of Education sparked an explosive corruption investigation that saw police lay serious fraud charges against a western Sydney school principal, a court has heard.

Sir Joseph Banks High School head Rabieh Gharibeh, 37, and his builder brother-in-law, 38-year-old Ahmed Charchouh, were arrested in December last year and hit with more than 60 charges each amid allegations they defrauded the department of nearly $1.4m through a school building scam.

It is alleged Gharibeh directed the scheme by contracting Charchouh, through the latter’s cleaning company, Masterclass Pty Ltd, to perform school maintenance work funded through state government grants.

But police allege some of the work was never performed and the pair submitted 86 fraudulent invoices to the department, allegedly enabling them to pocket nearly $1.4m.

Gharibeh was remanded in custody after his arrest and spent more than three months behind bars before being granted strict conditional bail in the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday.

As part of his bail, Gharibeh must live at a property in Georges Hall with his mother, who agreed to forfeit $10,000 if her son does not comply with his bail.

Sir Joseph Banks High School head Rabieh Gharibeh (above) and his builder brother-in-law Ahmed Charchouh were arrested in December last year and hit with more than 60 charges each.

Gharibeh must also report to police daily, wear an electronic ankle monitor, abide by a nighttime curfew and not contact any co-accused or witnesses, including anyone from Sir Joseph Banks High School.

According to court documents, police will allege the NSW Department of Education received an anonymous letter in September 2023 detailing explosive allegations against Gharibeh.

The department carried out an extensive investigation into the claims, allegedly uncovering evidence of widespread fraud and corruption.

The file was subsequently handed to the NSW Police’s financial crimes squad, who carried out their own investigation throughout 2024 before raiding properties in Georges Hall, Yagoona and Revesby in December and arresting Gharibeh and his brother-in-law.

Police will allege the two men began offending in 2022, when Gharibeh was the principal of Granville South Creative and Performing Arts High School in Guildford, before continuing the alleged fraud when he took charge of Sir Joseph Banks, in Revesby, the following year.

The court heard as school principal, Gharibeh was authorised to approve maintenance and building works worth up to $150,000 at a time.

It is alleged Gharibeh and Charchouh created invoices that were inflated or duplicates when billing for general services and maintenance work carried out around the school grounds, including removal of chewing gum, cleaning and chemical treatment of walls, garden works, pressure cleaning, mould cleaning treatment and a computer lab refurbishment.

Gharibeh was arrested under Strike Force Heidi.

The court heard police will allege some invoices were fake, with the department billed for work that had never occurred.

It is alleged Charchouh gave Gharibeh at least two financial kickbacks as part of the scheme.

Court documents reveal the two men allegedly received $1.39m in total from the department over the course of the alleged scam, with Gharibeh allegedly pocketing $914,000 as his share of the funds.

Police allege the two men began offending in 2022.

In court on Thursday, Gharibeh’s lawyers said their client had been aware investigations were occurring into his alleged conduct throughout 2024 and had not tried to flee interstate or overseas.

They cast doubt over the strength of the case against Gharibeh, claiming the fact sheets were light on detail.

“We say that much of the allegations that have come from …. the document are simply not made out,” barrister Greg James KC said.

“So far as corrupt rewards are concerned, they’re denied.”

Justice Stephen Rothman said he could not find the case was weak but agreed to grant bail on the strict conditions, finding Gharibeh did not present a flight risk.

The case will return to court in April.

Originally published as Sir Joseph Banks High School principal Rabieh Gharibeh bailed on $1.4m fraud charges