A Sydney Telstra worker who allegedly stole 1500 phones and deleted more than 1000 records is accused of defrauding the company out of $3 million over more than a year.
Police allege 34-year-old Qartullah Sulaiman, from Merrylands in Sydney’s west, was employed “in a position of responsibility” within the company when he unlawfully obtained the “high-end mobile phones and accessories” and sold them on various marketplace websites.
Alleged telco fraudster Qartullah Sulaiman (right) leaves Parramatta Local Court.Credit: Wolter Peeters
According to documents tendered to Parramatta Local Court, police allege Sulaiman dishonestly caused a financial disadvantage of $3,082,603 to Telstra Corporation Limited by obtaining 1407 mobile phones and accessories between March 1, 2022, and September 5 this year at Guildford.
Across the same period, Sulaiman allegedly deleted 1396 records on Telstra’s ordering and billing systems, “knowing that it was unauthorised, with the intention of committing a serious indictable offence [being] fraud,” the documents state.
Sulaiman is further alleged to have dealt with $363,000 knowing it was the proceeds of crime between November 16 last year and February 1 this year, again in Guildford.
Police allege that between September 21 and September 23 this year, Sulaiman used $27,500 worth of proceeds of crime to buy a Toyota Corolla sedan.
The case will return to court on February 15.Credit: Wolter Peeters
NSW Police State Crime Command’s Cybercrime Squad created Strike Force Jarley in October in response to reports that a telephone company was allegedly defrauded about $3 million by one of its employees.
Following extensive inquiries, police executed a search warrant on the morning of November 9 at a Guildford home, where they allegedly found and seized electronics, cryptocurrency and a vehicle.
They arrested Sulaiman and took him to Granville police station, where he was charged with one count of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, two counts of knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime and one count of an unauthorised function with intent to commit a serious offence.
Qartullah Sulaiman was arrested at his Guildford home.Credit: NSW Police
Sulaiman was granted strict conditional bail to face Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday.
Wearing a navy-blue shirt and sitting next to a woman, Sulaiman appeared briefly before Magistrate Peter Feather.
His case was adjourned to February 15, when it will return to Parramatta Local Court for mention.
Under his bail conditions, Sulaiman must report to Merrylands Police Station three days a week, surrender his passport to police and not enter any international airport or international departure point.
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