‘Owes me’: Principal’s phone calls amid alleged $1.4m fraud

A court has heard how a Sydney school principal’s phone calls were allegedly tapped by police investigating an alleged $1.4m fraud.

Police arrested two men over the investigation in December.

A Sydney school principal allegedly involved in a $1.4m fraud on the education department spoke about needing to borrow money from his mum when funds stopped coming, a court has head.

Rabieh Gharibeh, then-principal of Sir Joseph Banks High, was allegedly recorded telling his fiance in November he was “waiting for some money to come in” before they could buy furniture at IKEA.

Court documents allege the conversation came one day after maintenance company Master Class, run by Mr Gharibeh’s brother-in-law Ahmed Charchouh, submitted a $165,000 invoice to the department.

Sir Joseph Banks High School Principal Rabieh Gharibeh. Picture: Supplied

Ahmed Charchouh was arrested in Yagoona.

Police allege Mr Gharibeh contracted Master Class for maintenance at two schools he worked at, some of which were never carried out, and pocketed $914,000 over two years.

“The allegations included invoice splitting, invoices being backdated for immediate payment, duplicate payments for the same work and inflated invoices,” prosecutors allege.

A final set of invoices submitted on November 4, 2024, were not paid by the NSW Department of Education, and police were listening in on phone taps in the days afterwards.

On November 5, police claim they recorded Mr Gharibeh speaking to his fiance Meiar Roubaie about plans to go shopping.

“I’m just waiting for some money to come in,” he said, according to court documents.

“If it comes in this week, we can go on the weekend to IKEA um and the TV unit and stuff.”

His fiance allegedly asked: “Where’s the money coming from?”

“I got someone who owes me money,” he allegedly replied.

Police arrested the men on December 4. Picture: NSW Police

Court documents also claim that on November 8, in another call between the pair, Mr Gharibeh allegedly claimed he left money with Mr Charchouh and had an issue with his bank account.

“He’s like bro, I can’t even send your f***en money, that’s the biggest thing I’m f***en stressing about,” the principal allegedly told his bride-to-be.

“He’s lucky he’s got another bank account where he’s got daily money. Says now I’ve just got to wait till it’s done so he can send me it.

“So don’t stress me out talking about furniture until I tell you I’m good I got that money again.”

He also allegedly asked Mr Charchouh to resend the invoices before telling his sister about how an invoice for “Ahmed and I” was “f***en delayed”.

“But I spent a million things so I was asking mum if I could borrow four grand off her,” he was allegedly recorded saying.

Police seized electronics, cash, a ballistics vest, and luxury watches during raids in December. Picture: NSW Police

Court documents allege he also spoke of spending $110,000 or more on jewellery and furniture ahead of his planned wedding.

It is also alleged that in another call with his sister on November 14, Mr Gharibeh said: “But this delay on the stuff, what Ahmed did has threw me back hard.”

Documents tendered to the NSW Supreme Court allege the phone calls “show the accused … has a strong reliance on the money he is approving to be paid by the Department of Education to Master Class which he is obtaining dishonestly through his actions and his belief that the money belongs to him and Charchouh”.

“It also shows the accused being dishonest with Roubaie in relation to the money he claims Charchouh owes him.”

Mr Gharibeh was granted bail in court on Thursday after spending three months in custody since his December arrest.

In an affidavit tendered to the Supreme Court, Ms Roubaie described her partner as “a person of integrity, known for his loyalty and honesty”.

She said the two were Islamically married in September, and their formal wedding had been scheduled for December 21 – which was after Mr Gharibeh was arrested on December 4.

He had faced “significant mental health challenges stemming from relentless work pressures and personal issues”, she wrote, and “has faced harassment and stalking from parents at his school” which he reported to police.

Rabieh Gharibeh worked as a teacher and principal since 2012.

Both Mr Gharibeh and Mr Charchouh face more than 60 charges each, including dishonestly obtain financial advantage, attempt to dishonestly obtain financial advantage, agent corruptly receive benefit and direct/participate in a criminal group.

Police began investigating in April 2024 under Strike Force Heidi, about six months after the education department started its own investigation.

It was revealed in court papers the department received an anonymous letter in September 2023 which was forwarded to the NSW Department of Education Professional and Ethical Standards.

Under his bail conditions, Mr Gharibeh must live at Georges Hall with his mother.

He must report to police daily, wear an electronic ankle monitor, not leave home between 8pm and 8am and not contact any co-accused or witnesses.

Mr Gharibeh, Mr Charchouh and a third man will next face court over the Strike Force Heidi allegations in April.