‘You need a garbage bag': Messages reveal couple joked about dirty money, ICAC hears
Katya Wang, a former Transport for NSW program governance and reporting officer, admitted her romantic partner and colleague Ibrahim Helmy gave her $6000 in cash benefits that he received from contractors, which she kept at home in a red envelope.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption heard they began a romantic relationship in 2018, a few months after Wang started working at the government agency, which lasted more than six years until September 2024. She confessed to an ICAC inquiry on Tuesday she had detailed knowledge of his arrangements and assisted on multiple occasions with his schemes.
Wang broke down crying when she told the inquiry on Wednesday she was 'uncomfortable each time' Helmy gave her $1000 in cash kickbacks.
The 31-year-old said she made numerous attempts to return the $6000 throughout their relationship, detailing one instance where she snuck the red envelope in Helmy's bag, which he later found and slid back under her door.
'I didn't want the cash, I didn't need money. It was improper money … He just wouldn't take it back, he just said it's for you,' she told the inquiry.
'Because I kept trying to give it back, he didn't give me any more bundles of cash.'
Helmy, 38, is accused of pocketing $11.5 million in kickbacks – including bundles of cash, gold bullion and cryptocurrency – over 15 years from nine contractors in return for them being awarded work.
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A former NSW transport department officer has broken down in tears recounting numerous attempts to return thousands of dollars of cash kickbacks she received from the alleged mastermind of the scandal engulfing the government agency, saying she felt uncomfortable and did not want the 'improper money' from her romantic partner. Katya Wang, a former Transport for NSW program governance and reporting officer, admitted her romantic partner and colleague Ibrahim Helmy gave her $6000 in cash benefits that he received from contractors, which she kept at home in a red envelope. The Independent Commission Against Corruption heard they began a romantic relationship in 2018, a few months after Wang started working at the government agency, which lasted more than six years until September 2024. She confessed to an ICAC inquiry on Tuesday she had detailed knowledge of his arrangements and assisted on multiple occasions with his schemes. Wang broke down crying when she told the inquiry on Wednesday she was 'uncomfortable each time' Helmy gave her $1000 in cash kickbacks. The 31-year-old said she made numerous attempts to return the $6000 throughout their relationship, detailing one instance where she snuck the red envelope in Helmy's bag, which he later found and slid back under her door. 'I didn't want the cash, I didn't need money. It was improper money … He just wouldn't take it back, he just said it's for you,' she told the inquiry. 'Because I kept trying to give it back, he didn't give me any more bundles of cash.' Helmy, 38, is accused of pocketing $11.5 million in kickbacks – including bundles of cash, gold bullion and cryptocurrency – over 15 years from nine contractors in return for them being awarded work.
