Police take up search as key ICAC witness goes missing amid Transport probe
A NSW Government employee at the centre of a multimillion-dollar ICAC investigation, was meant to check in with authorities in early May, but never showed, and now an arrest warrant has been issued.
NSW
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A NSW Government employee at the centre of a multimillion-dollar ICAC investigation has gone missing, with NSW Police called in to urgently help find him.
Ibrahim Helmy is a key witness in the ongoing investigation into kickbacks allegedly received by Transport for NSW staff, in exchange for the issuing of contracts for road works.
Mr Helmy was meant to check in at a Sydney police station on May 2 as part of the bail-like reporting conditions ICAC has the power to place on witnesses – but he never showed.
NSW Police did so, saying in a statement: “Ibrahim Helmy, aged 38, is wanted by virtue of an outstanding arrest warrant for failing to attend in accordance with a summons.
“Ibrahim is described as Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, about 175cm tall, of medium build and with black hair.
“He is known to frequent Merrylands and Guildford.”
It is understood the ICAC matters involving Mr Helmy are only part-way through and sources said they were unclear what had led to his disappearance.
ICAC is yet to comment publicly on the raids or investigation.
The ICAC investigations began in September when officers carried out a raid on Mr Helmy’s residence in Merrylands, in conjunction with the NSW Crime Commission, where the latter is understood to have seized millions of dollars worth of cryptocurrency.
The Crime Commission has subsequently launched Supreme Court civil action against Mr Helmy over the cryptocurrency assets.
That matter remains ongoing and is next due back in court on October 13.
Mr Helmy is not facing criminal charges and there are no suggestions of wrongdoing against him.
The Daily Telegraph first revealed details of the ICAC investigation last year, following raids on the headquarters of Protection Barriers Pty Ltd at Koolkhan, in the state’s Northern Rivers, one of the state’s biggest road safety companies which was founded by Jason and owned by his wife Meshell Chellew.
The roadwork giant specialised in installing wire rope and steel guardrails on roadsides and had been awarded more than $110 million in tenders from Transport for NSW over the past decade.
The Crime Commission was also involved in those raids, and has ongoing civil action against the Chellews in the Supreme Court.
That matter, also due back in court on October 13, relates to the seizure of a number of assets during the Protection Barriers raids, among them $100,000 in cryptocurrency and two luxury vehicles – a $380,000 Bentley and a $150,000 Range Rover.
In the wake of the raids, Protection Barriers has gone into administration, with a list of creditors owed a total of $1.276m.
Protection Barriers was previously mentioned during ICAC hearings for Operation Paragon – an investigation into Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) and Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) employees receiving kickbacks for the awarding of contracts.
There was no allegation of wrongdoing against Protection Barriers, but rather the company was discussed during the hearings as a third party, which was paid to complete work initially contracted to other businesses.
Like Mr Helmy, there is no suggestion of wrongdoing against Mr and Mrs Chellew, or staff at Protection Barriers.
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