ICAC Runaway’s Anti-Aussie Jokes Revealed as He Remains Missing Amid $343M ‘Corruption’ Probe
Josh Hanrahan and Dan Proudman, Daily Telegraph, August 6, 2025
A NSW government worker who is on the run amid an ICAC investigation into corruption he allegedly masterminded, joked with associates about “taking” millions of dollars from a “bunch of Aussies”.
Ibrahim Helmy remains at large as ICAC’s Operation Wyvern begins the fourth week of a public probe into a web of corruption that allegedly saw the Transport for NSW employee paid bribes of gold, cryptocurrency and cash, by roadworks companies.
ICAC has previously heard in exchange for the bribes, Mr Helmy gave a “staggering” $343 million in taxpayer funds to more than nine companies to work on regional roads and highways.
Mr Helmy vanished in May, with a NSW Police arrest warrant currently out for him.
The hearing this week heard Mr Helmy – who has Australian, Egyptian and United States passports – sent text messages to associates bragging about the money he was allegedly pocketing.
When an associate texted Mr Helmy that he “likes white people giving us money”, the TfNSW employee responded: “It’s like they’re giving us money to live in their country”.
“We’re here in their country taking their money,” Mr Helmy allegedly said in another text.
In another exchange, Mr Helmy’s associate said “they are all the same, making us money” to which Mr Helmy replied, “that’s right…. all (a) bunch of Aussies”.
The Daily Telegraph broke news of the ICAC-led investigation last October, after raids on Mr Helmy’s home in Merrylands and the headquarters of Protection Barriers, one of the state’s biggest roadworks companies based near Grafton.
The Telegraph’s coverage was mentioned on Tuesday by counsel assisting Rob Ranken SC, as he quizzed the owner of one roadworks business on when he learned of the ICAC probe into Mr Helmy.
Wayne Harrison was the director of Kerway Asphalting Pty Ltd, who were allegedly paid $35 million by TfNSW between September 2019 and May 2025.
He was quizzed by Mr Ranken on how he first found out that ICAC was investigating TfNSW. “A friend of mine brought it to my attention when it came out in The Daily Telegraph,” Mr Harrison said.
The hearing heard Mr Harrison had subsequently discussed the ICAC investigation with Mr Helmy in phone calls, but the TfNSW employee brushed it off as “old news”.
“I said to him, ‘I heard someone in your office is in trouble’… but I didn’t know it was him (Mr Helmy),” Mr Harrison said.
“He (Mr Helmy) said it was old news that happened four years ago.”
The hearing heard Mr Helmy at one point attempted to get Mr Harrison to pay him $800,000 in cash.
Mr Harrison said when he pushed back on the TfNSW employee, he was told by Mr Helmy, “I know you’ve got that sort of money”.
Mr Helmy allegedly then produced a document detailing Kerway Asphalting’s private finances, to which Mr Harrison asked him: “How in the hell did you get this?”.
“He (Mr Helmy) said, ‘I’ve got ways’,” Mr Harrison said.
Mr Harrison denied on multiple occasions while giving evidence that he or his company handed over large amounts of cash to Mr Helmy.
The ICAC hearing continues.
