ICAC fugitive Ibrahim Helmy arrested after months on the run

In May, he was seen putting the bins out. In July and August, an anti-corruption inquiry heard he was a wanted man and aired allegations he received $11.5 million in corrupt kickbacks. On Friday, he was arrested in a grey tracksuit about 20 kilometres from his home.

After months on the run, fugitive former Transport for NSW manager Ibrahim Helmy was arrested at an apartment block in south-western Sydney on Friday afternoon.

Helmy is not facing criminal charges, but the arrest warrant authorises him to be detained until his next appearance before the Independent Commission Against Corruption. The ICAC inquiry into Transport for NSW is due to resume on October 7.

Detectives picked Helmy up at a red-brick unit block in Lakemba.

Helmy walked quietly with two cybercrime squad investigators to an unmarked police car. He was taken to Campsie police station where the warrant was executed, “which authorises police to detain the man to ensure his appearance before the ICAC inquiry”, police said in a statement.

The anti-corruption body said in a statement that Helmy would remain behind bars until “released by order of an ICAC Commissioner”.

The ICAC is investigating allegations that Helmy was the mastermind behind corrupt relationships with nine companies that were paid at least $343 million in contracts by Transport for NSW in return for kickbacks.

Helmy is alleged to have received $11.5 million in kickbacks from contractors for work on the state’s roads – including bundles of cash, gold bullion and cryptocurrency.

Before his arrest on Friday, he had failed to answer his summons to appear before the ICAC in May and a family member had told the ICAC that he “took the rubbish out on a Sunday night and did not return”.

Counsel assisting the ICAC Rob Ranken, SC, detailed allegations to the inquiry about the awarding of the “staggering” $343 million in contracts to about nine companies, which are the subject of a multi-agency investigation, in return for financial benefits.

The public inquiry into the kickbacks is part of an ICAC investigation known as Operation Wyvern. Hearings were adjourned last month after six weeks and because some witnesses have yet to be heard, were due to resume on October 7 for another four weeks.

During the hearing, a former Transport for NSW program governance and reporting officer, Katya Wang, admitted Helmy had been her romantic partner and colleague. She testified Helmy gave her $6000 in cash benefits that he received from contractors, which she kept at home in a red envelope.

The inquiry also heard that Helmy and another Transport department co-conspirator used the death of a workmate to misrepresent the fact that he had wanted a contractor they received cash benefits from to be awarded government work.

The anti-corruption inquiry was also played a video, late in August, showing the alleged mastermind of the kickback scheme using a money machine to count $5000 in cash.

With Matt O’Sullivan and Cindy Yin

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