What Sir Joseph Banks principal Rabieh Gharibeh allegedly spent defrauded department money on

Court documents have revealed what a Sydney school principal accused of pocketing almost $1 million in an education department fraud scam allegedly spent the money on.

Former Sir Joseph Banks High School principal Rabieh Gharibeh was seen for the first time this week since allegations he pocketed $1.4 million in a fraud scam.

A high school principal accused of pocketing almost $1m in a NSW Department of Education fraud scam allegedly used the cash to set up home with his wife-to-be and shower her in expensive jewellery ahead of their upcoming wedding, a court has heard.

It comes as court documents reveal Sir Joseph Banks High School head Rabieh Gharibeh claims he was under “relentless” pressure at work and was being stalked and harassed by parents at the school when he allegedly masterminded a $1.4m school building scam alongside his builder brother-in-law, Ahmed Charchouh.

Gharibeh was seen for the first time in public this week, walking around the overgrown front yard of his mother’s home.

He was granted conditional bail by the NSW Supreme Court earlier this month to live with her at a property in Georges Hall.

In the photos, Gharibeh is seen wearing a black Reebok-branded t-shirt and pants, which stop at the ankle, leaving his court-ordered electronic ankle monitor on full display.

Former Sir Joseph Banks High School principal Rabieh Gharibeh is seen in the front yard of his mother’s Geroges Hall property this week after being released on bail by the NSW Supreme Court.

Gharibeh and Charchouh are facing more than 60 charges after they were arrested in December last year when NSW Police financial crimes squad officers raided properties in Georges Hall, Yagoona and Revesby.

According to documents tendered to the NSW Supreme Court this month, Gharibeh contracted Charchouh, through the latter’s cleaning company, Masterclass Pty Ltd, to perform school maintenance work funded through state government grants.

However, it is alleged some of the work was never performed and the pair submitted 86 fraudulent, inflated or fake invoices to the NSW Department of Education, allegedly enabling them to pocket nearly $1.4m.

Gharibeh must live with his mother at the property, and has to wear an ankle monitor under the terms of his bail.

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.

Gharibeh is accused of pocketing $914,000 as his share of the ill-gotten funds.

The court heard Gharibeh was due to marry his English teacher girlfriend on December 21 last year and had spent at least some of the money buying her jewellery and purchasing furniture for the four-bedroom, two-bathroom Chipping Norton rental property they planned to live in after they were married.

In an intercepted phone call, police allegedly overheard Gharibeh tell a family member “[I’m] waiting for this invoice to go through for Ahmed and I, and it’s been f—ken delayed.”

“But I spent a million things so I was asking mum if I could borrow four grand off her,” he was recorded saying to the family member, before allegedly going on to explain he had spent “over the 110, 120 grand mark” on jewellery and house furniture ahead of his wedding.

Sir Joseph Banks high school principal Rabieh Gharibeh. Picture: Supplied

The court heard in a conversation with his girlfriend, Gharibeh allegedly said he was waiting for money to come in from someone “who owes me” and told his wife-to-be “don’t stress me out talking about furniture until I tell you I’m good, I got that money again”.

The wedding ultimately did not proceed after Gharibeh was remanded in custody without bail.

Gharibeh’s fiance is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, court documents reveal Gharibeh suffers from anxiety and depression and was working 65 to 70 hours a week at the time of the alleged offending.

The court heard Gharibeh claimed he had been under “relentless” pressure at work and was being abused, harassed and stalked by a parent from school.

“She was stalking me and stalking my fiance … it has been going on for two years,” he told his treating psychologist.

Gharibeh said he reported the matter to police and the NSW Department of Education, but claimed he had received inadequate support from the latter, causing his mood to deteriorate.

Gharibeh, who is yet to enter pleas to the charges, will return to court on April 3.

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