Ibrahim Hawat: Alleged Covid-payment scam syndicate ringleader makes bail bid

The alleged ringleader of a Covid-19 payment scam syndicate went as far as offering to give up every phone and electronic device he owned in a bid to secure bail.

A 48-year old father-of-seven has had a desperate bid for bail denied, going as far as to offer to attend a rehabilitation facility and give up every phone and electronic device he owned.

Chester Hill man Ibrahim Hawat is accused by police of being the leader of a fraud syndicate which claimed $1.3 million in Covid-19 benefit payments, alongside co-accused Zaman Haidary and Ashraf Khoder.

The syndicate is alleged to have used stolen identity documents to fraudulently obtain micro Covid-19 business grants and flood support payments.

But it was his past serious criminal convictions for drug-related offences which gave Magistrate Andrew Miller pause in Burwood Local Court on Wednesday.

“The defendant’s history indicates drug addiction, with serious matters on his record relating to drug offences, having been jailed previously,” Mr Miller said.

Ibrahim Hawat, Zaman Haidary, and Ashraf Khoder are before the courts for allegedly claiming more than $1.3 million in fraudulent disaster payments. This photo is of the arrest at Chester Hill on March 31, 2022. Picture: NSW Police

Hawat’s lawyer told the court his client was a loving family man, with seven children and a wife eager for him to return home. “This is a man who does comply with court orders, does comply with bail,” his lawyer said.

The court heard Hawat’s alleged crimes were committed shortly after his time imprisoned on drug offences.

This photo is of the arrest at Carramar on March 31. Picture: NSW Police

He acknowledged his client’s drug problems, and offered the condition that he attend a rehabilitation facility as part of his release on bail, along with forfeiting any phones or electronic devices Hawat owned.

Mr Miller told the court the proposed facility was not a ‘lockdown’ one, where a person in treatment is forced to stay and complete the program.

“As it stands, I’m being asked to release the defendant to live at home, subject to a program being found that may be suitable to the court,” the magistrate said.

“It is not a situation in my view where releasing him back to his home would adequately meet the necessary test, and reduce the bail concerns.”

Mr Miller denied the bail application, telling Hawat’s lawyer, “If there is a facility that becomes available that will constitute a change of circumstances, I make no indication of what the results would be, but accept that would be a change of circumstances.”

Police officers with a battering ram pictured at the arrest at Carramar on March 31. Picture: NSW Police

Court papers for Hawat reveal details on a slew of alleged fraud offences, with multiple alleged victims across the 22 charges police have filed.

Those offences include knowingly direct activities of criminal group, deal with identity information to commit indictable offence, and dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception.

Police allege he used dishonestly obtained drivers licences, Medicare cards, and a HSBC bank card to obtain, and attempt to obtain, Micro Covid-19 Business Grants and Flood Small Business Support payments.

One charge from police alleges 30 Micro Covid-19 Business grants were obtained through one alleged victim’s identification documents, totalling $330,000.

Police allege there was an attempt to obtain 10 more grants under the same alleged victim’s name, to the value of $105,000.

Hawat, along with co-accused Khoder and Haidary, will return to Burwood Local Court on September 7.