URGENT UPDATE: A former Transport for NSW officer, Peter Le, has confessed to facilitating a massive $343 million kickback scheme, shedding light on his connections with the alleged mastermind, Ibrahim Helmy. This explosive revelation came during an anti-corruption inquiry held by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Thursday.
Le disclosed that he initially collaborated with Helmy in 2019, providing him with contact details for contractors, including Michael Kennedy, director of Avijohn Contracting. The inquiry revealed that their communications, often conducted via WhatsApp, involved discussions about kickbacks from family-owned contractors that benefited both officials.
“I told [Helmy] that I don’t want to be the one to contact Michael Kennedy. I thought [Kennedy] would say no and would then report it [to Transport for NSW],” Le stated, acknowledging his awareness of the illegal nature of their activities at the time.
The ICAC is currently investigating Helmy, who is accused of orchestrating corrupt relationships with nine contractors, resulting in at least $343 million in awarded contracts. Helmy is alleged to have pocketed $11.5 million in kickbacks over a span of 15 years, receiving payments in cash, gold bullion, and cryptocurrency. Notably, Helmy has been evading authorities since he failed to appear before the ICAC in May.
Le, who joined Helmy’s procurement team in 2023, described the pressure he felt to support Helmy’s illicit arrangements, revealing that Helmy sought cash payments from contractors. Under questioning from ICAC counsel Rob Ranken, Le admitted that he effectively acted as Helmy’s assistant in these dealings.
As the inquiry unfolds, the implications of this scandal are profound, raising significant concerns about corruption within public contracts and the integrity of transport procurement processes in New South Wales.
WHAT’S NEXT: All eyes are now on the ICAC as they continue their investigation into Helmy’s alleged misconduct and the broader network of corruption. The inquiry’s findings could lead to further legal actions against involved parties and might prompt widespread reforms in the Transport for NSW procurement practices.
Stay tuned for real-time updates on this developing story as it impacts the integrity of public service and accountability in New South Wales.
