Sacked Transport official recalls dealings with alleged mastermind of kickback scheme
In his first day before an anti-corruption inquiry, former Transport for NSW procurement officer Peter Le confirmed that he would communicate with his then-colleague Ibrahim Helmy in WhatsApp messages about their private dealings with family-owned contractors from which the pair received benefits.
Le confirmed that he first became involved in kickback arrangements with Helmy in 2019, and detailed to the inquiry how he gave him the contact details for Michael Kennedy, the director of family business Avijohn Contracting, to make an approach about entering into a deal.
'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 told the inquiry.
Asked whether that was because he realised that it was improper, Le confirmed that he appreciated at the time that such conduct by Transport for NSW officials was illegal.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption is investigating allegations Helmy was the mastermind behind corrupt relationships with nine companies that were paid at least $343 million in contracts by Transport for NSW.
Helmy, 38, is accused of pocketing $11.5 million in kickbacks – including bundles of cash, gold bullion and cryptocurrency – over 15 years from the contractors in return for them being awarded work. He failed to appear before the ICAC in May and, since then, has been on the run from police.
Under questioning from ICAC counsel assisting Rob Ranken, SC, Le said he understood that Helmy was reliant on him to make their arrangements work, and that his colleague wanted money from contractors to be paid in cash.
Le joined Helmy's procurement team in 2023 from another role at Transport for NSW, and he conceded that he effectively became an assistant for him.
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