‘Got out of hand’: Businesses who allegedly cashed in on $343 million in corrupt government deals tell all
The tentacles of an allegedly corrupt NSW government official extended to businesses in all corners of NSW, as he gave them “crazy” amounts of work in return for millions in cash and cryptocurrency, an ICAC hearing has heard.
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The tentacles of an allegedly corrupt NSW government official extended to businesses in all corners of NSW and even interstate, as he gave them “crazy” amounts of work in return for millions in cash and cryptocurrency, an ICAC hearing has heard.
Former Transport for NSW worker Ibrahim Helmy is under investigation by ICAC for allegedly taking $11.5 million in corrupt kickbacks in exchange for roadworks contracts.
Operation Wyvern, a public inquiry centred around Mr Helmy, this week heard claims that when he was on the clock for the taxpayers, he was also busy working for himself – collecting cash envelopes in dodgy carpark meetings and “coaching” companies on how to send him millions in cryptocurrency.
The company directors who have already fronted ICAC say after they began allegedly corrupt relationships with Mr Helmy, work for their businesses suddenly went “crazy” and “got out of hand”.
“When it started it was, it was only supposed to be … I thought it was just a little, little operation,” Jason Chellew, the founder of Grafton-based company Protection Barriers Pty Ltd, told the hearing this week.
“(I thought) it was never going to go (as) crazy as it did, like, all this work went, went through the roof … it just got out of hand.”
Mr Chellew’s company Protection Barriers allegedly received $100 million in taxpayer-funded Transport for NSW contracts – the most of any roadworks firm – in return for allegedly giving “kickbacks” to Mr Helmy.
Rob Ranken SC, counsel assisting the inquiry, outlined this week that over the next month-and-a-half they will call on other eight other businesses who like Protection Barriers allegedly shared in a combined $343 million in government contracts.
Among the biggest winners of relationships with Mr Helmy was Campbelltown-based Direct Traffic Pty Ltd, directed by Mechelina Van Der Ende-Plakke, which allegedly received $48m in contracts between 2018 and 2025, the inquiry was told.
Deik Lack, the director of Lack Group Pty Ltd, allegedly oversaw receipt of some $50m in TfNSW contracts in the space of just two years across 2023 to 2025, Mr Ranken said.
Kerway Asphalting, a company from Sydney’s north west directed by Wayne Harrison, was allegedly paid $35m in taxpayer funds.
As the hearings proceed though, there is an elephant in the room – the exact whereabouts of Mr Helmy, which are currently unknown.
It is understood the allegedly corrupt ex-TfNSW employee, who worked for the government agency for 15 years until his employment was terminated this year, is meant to be the final witness of the hearings.
However he has not been seen since early May and is currently believed to be on the run.
NSW Police have issued an arrest warrant for Mr Helmy and as Mr Ranken told the hearing earlier this week, authorities have no reason to believe he has left Australia.
Mr Ranken told the hearing it is believed “individuals have been collaborating to conceal (Mr Helmy’s) whereabouts”.
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Originally published as ‘Got out of hand’: Businesses who allegedly cashed in on $343 million in corrupt government deals tell all
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