Sir Joseph Banks High School principal Rabieh Gharibeh arrested over alleged $1.4m Department of Education frauds

A Sydney school principal and his brother-in-law are behind bars on remand after allegedly pocketing cash intended for maintenance work.

A Sydney school principal has been accused of masterminding a scheme with his brother-in-law to scam nearly $1.4m from the NSW Department of Education, in what has been described in court as a “deep family fraud” that “strikes at the confidence of the community”.

Sir Joseph Banks High School principal Rabieh Gharibeh, 37, and his brother-in-law, 38-year-old Ahmed Charchouh, were arrested early on Wednesday morning, when NSW Police financial crimes squad officers raided properties in Georges Hall, Yagoona and Revesby.

Both men were subsequently remanded in custody when they faced Bankstown Local Court later in the day, charged with more than 60 offences each.

They are yet to enter pleas to charges that include dishonestly obtaining financial advantage, attempting to dishonestly obtain financial advantage, and directing or participating in a criminal group.

Police claim the pair 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.

Sir Joseph Banks High School principal Rabieh Gharibeh.

Gharibeh is accused of directing the scheme by contracting Charchouh, through the latter’s cleaning company, Masterclass Pty Ltd, to perform maintenance work funded through state government grants.

But police claim 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.

During Wednesday morning’s raids, Strike Force Heidi detectives – with assistance from Raptor Squad – also seized electronics, $42,400 in cash, a ballistics vest and luxury watches.

One of the men is arrested on Wednesday morning. Picture: NSW Police

During search warrants, police seized electronics, $42,400 in cash, and luxury watches. Picture: NSW Police

Later in the day, the court heard Gharibeh had allegedly pocketed close to 80 per cent of the money, with Charchouch taking the rest.

Charchouh’s solicitor, Elias Tabchouri, argued his client had performed at least some legitimate works.

Seeking bail for his client, he said Charchouch’s wife, who is Gharibeh’s sister, was due to give birth within the next month.

He proposed a number of strict bail conditions including effective house arrest, the surrender of his client’s passport and a ban on approaching any international points of departure.

A ballistics vest was also allegedly seized during Wednesday’s searches. Picture: NSW Police

However, the prosecution argued that as Gharibeh’s brother-in-law, he posed an unacceptably high risk of contaminating evidence and tampering with prosecution witnesses.

“Ultimately, this is not victimless offending,” the prosecution said.

“This was $1.4m defrauded and it affects every taxpayer.

“It strikes at the very confidence the community should be able to have in one another.”

Police allege the pair fraudulently obtained nearly $1.4m from the Department of Education through 86 separate invoices. Picture: NSW Police

Magistrate Jennifer Giles said “it is clear that there has been a deep family fraud that has been going on for more than two years”.

“Charchouh appears to be up to his neck in a criminal, organised enterprise,” she said.

“Problematically, he is open to his company to be used to defraud the public purse.

“I can’t control that by way of any bail conditions. The public is simply not safe.”

Ms Giles refused Charchouh bail, meaning he will remain behind bars on remand until his matter returns to court on December 12.

Gharibeh was also remanded in custody until that date, when his lawyer, Mohammad Khan, indicated he would apply for bail.

In a statement, the Department of Education said it upheld “high professional and ethical standards” and took any allegation of criminal activity “extremely seriously”.

“It would be inappropriate to comment on a matter before the courts,” a spokesperson said.

It is understood Melanie Check has been appointed a relieving principal for Sir Joseph Banks High School.

Police said investigations under Strike Force Heidi were ongoing.