Former Australian of the Year finalist Eman Sharobeem blames co-worker over $680k fraud

THE money was meant to help vulnerable women from non-English speaking backgrounds but instead public money was used to fund one woman’s lavish lifestyle, a corruption inquiry has heard.

• ICAC investigating Eman Sharobeem

THE money was meant to help vulnerable women from non-English speaking backgrounds but instead public funds were used to fund one woman’s lavish lifestyle — and that of her sons, a corruption inquiry has heard.

Eman Sharobeem (centre) arrives to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption today. Picture: David Moir

And in one instance, the head of two not-for-profit organisations, Eman Sharobeem used the money to buy her family a $5670 red, Suzuki motorcycle.

That motorcycle purchase was a small example of the more than $680,000 Sharobeem is accused of misappropriating from the Immigrant Women’s Health Service and the Non English Housing Women’s Scheme.

Richard Sharobeem on a motorcycle his mother allegedly purchased using not-for-profit funds.

Sharobeem has presented herself as a champion on women’s rights and lied about being a child bride to raise her public profile which saw her become an Australian of the Year Finalist.

Now, she is the subject of a corruption inquiry where she is accused of submitting fake invoices -for services that were never provided — in order to buy a Mercedes Benz for her husband, leather sofas, a fountain for her home, liposuction for her son, Botox injections for her, clothes and groceries.

It is also claimed she made fraudulent wage payments into her own bank account and her two sons, Richard and Charlie.

On Wednesday the Independent Commission for Corruption heard evidence from her two sons, who often fumbled and bumbled when asked how much money they received, what work they did and when they were paid.

Richard Sharobeem was paid $50,000 a year, and said his jobs included doing the dishes, photography, maintenance and cleaning.

But he could not remember when or for how long he worked and was also at a loss to explain how an extra $34,000 landed in his personal bank account from IWHS.

He also said he never noticed the money in his account.

Richard (left) and Charlie (right) Sharobeem as they leave the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption hearing today. Picture Emma Partridge.

Brother Charlie was equally stained to explain what work he had done to receive a $7,500 payment from one of the organisations.

He said he did “colourful” power-point presentations and one time fixed a broken mailbox.

Mr Sharobeem said he helped the “ladies” to do “internet work in back rooms” and when challenged about having an IT background he said he had been “playing with computers ever since I was a little kid”.

Sharobeem (centre) is accused of submitting fake invoices for services that were never provided to buy a Mercedes-Benz for her husband, liposuction for her son, Botox injections for her, clothes and groceries. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Earlier on Wednesday Sharobeem’s former employee — Nevine Ghaly — denied she had set her boss up.

When Counsel assisting the commission, Ramesh Rajalingam, asked Ms Ghaly if it was true that she had set up Ms Sharobeem she shook her head profusely and said: “No.”

Mr Rajalingam: “[Ms Sharobeem] said that you were the brains behind setting her up and other people were involved?”

Ms Ghaly: “Sorry, that’s not true.”

The hearing continues.