Latest news with #Kerway
Sydney Morning Herald
7 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Fugitive Transport manager takes delight at ‘dodgy contact' in WhatsApp exchange
Helmy, 38, is alleged to have pocketed $11.5 million in kickbacks – including bundles of cash, gold bullion and cryptocurrency – over 15 years from contractors, in return for them being awarded work. He failed to appear before the ICAC in May and police have a warrant out for his arrest. Loading ICAC counsel assisting Rob Ranken, SC, asked Harrison whether Helmy was referring to him in the WhatsApp messages, as well as whether it was obvious that the reason he was providing discounted concrete to the then-Transport official's friend was so that his company Kerway would get favourable treatment. In response, Harrison said he had no idea who the then-Transport for NSW procurement manager was referring to. 'You'll have to ask him,' Harrison responded. Harrison was also shown WhatsApp messages between Helmy and Taki in February 2024 in which Helmy said he was 'meeting bloody Wayne' and would be confirming 'the concrete things'. Asked whether it was the case that Helmy wanted to talk to him about squaring up matters about the concrete he had provided Taki, Harrison denied that was the case and said they were their WhatsApp messages. It has been alleged that Kerway Asphalting was awarded about $35 million of work by Transport for NSW between September 2019 and May this year as a result of corrupt dealings with Helmy. Rankin said it appeared that supplies of concrete to Taki had ended when ICAC's investigation had become public last year, which was a 'very odd coincidence'. Harrison rejected that assertion, and responded: 'Maybe he has finished his concreting.' Appearing as a witness late on Tuesday, former Transport for NSW senior project engineer David Liu confirmed that he received cash benefits in late 2021 from Jason Chellew, the founder of now-failed Grafton contractor Protection Barriers. Liu, who left Transport for NSW last April after about 17 years, said he came to receive the cash benefits after Helmy convinced him to become involved in the arrangement with contractors. He recalled a conversation during which Helmy joked that he should 'get on the bandwagon' and 'get in bed with contractors'. During a second conversation, Liu said Helmy got more serious and made suggestions about how he had 'this really safe way'. 'He said to me, 'you can inflate the rates'. I was shocked,' Liu said, clarifying that he was shocked that a Transport for NSW procurement officer could inflate contractors' rates given the oversight at the agency. 'He said, 'I just changed the rate' – clear as day.' Liu said Helmy wanted him to 'look the other way' if he wanted to add extra items to contractors' work, and sign off on it when an invoice was issued. Questioned about whether he thought what Helmy was suggesting at the time was improper, Liu said: 'I ask myself the question, 'why did you do this'?' Liu said the reasons he became involved were 'personal', explaining that he felt his career was 'going nowhere' after he had missed out on a promotion. The hearing continues.
The Age
7 days ago
- Business
- The Age
Fugitive Transport manager takes delight at ‘dodgy contact' in WhatsApp exchange
Helmy, 38, is alleged to have pocketed $11.5 million in kickbacks – including bundles of cash, gold bullion and cryptocurrency – over 15 years from contractors, in return for them being awarded work. He failed to appear before the ICAC in May and police have a warrant out for his arrest. Loading ICAC counsel assisting Rob Ranken, SC, asked Harrison whether Helmy was referring to him in the WhatsApp messages, as well as whether it was obvious that the reason he was providing discounted concrete to the then-Transport official's friend was so that his company Kerway would get favourable treatment. In response, Harrison said he had no idea who the then-Transport for NSW procurement manager was referring to. 'You'll have to ask him,' Harrison responded. Harrison was also shown WhatsApp messages between Helmy and Taki in February 2024 in which Helmy said he was 'meeting bloody Wayne' and would be confirming 'the concrete things'. Asked whether it was the case that Helmy wanted to talk to him about squaring up matters about the concrete he had provided Taki, Harrison denied that was the case and said they were their WhatsApp messages. It has been alleged that Kerway Asphalting was awarded about $35 million of work by Transport for NSW between September 2019 and May this year as a result of corrupt dealings with Helmy. Rankin said it appeared that supplies of concrete to Taki had ended when ICAC's investigation had become public last year, which was a 'very odd coincidence'. Harrison rejected that assertion, and responded: 'Maybe he has finished his concreting.' Appearing as a witness late on Tuesday, former Transport for NSW senior project engineer David Liu confirmed that he received cash benefits in late 2021 from Jason Chellew, the founder of now-failed Grafton contractor Protection Barriers. Liu, who left Transport for NSW last April after about 17 years, said he came to receive the cash benefits after Helmy convinced him to become involved in the arrangement with contractors. He recalled a conversation during which Helmy joked that he should 'get on the bandwagon' and 'get in bed with contractors'. During a second conversation, Liu said Helmy got more serious and made suggestions about how he had 'this really safe way'. 'He said to me, 'you can inflate the rates'. I was shocked,' Liu said, clarifying that he was shocked that a Transport for NSW procurement officer could inflate contractors' rates given the oversight at the agency. 'He said, 'I just changed the rate' – clear as day.' Liu said Helmy wanted him to 'look the other way' if he wanted to add extra items to contractors' work, and sign off on it when an invoice was issued. Questioned about whether he thought what Helmy was suggesting at the time was improper, Liu said: 'I ask myself the question, 'why did you do this'?' Liu said the reasons he became involved were 'personal', explaining that he felt his career was 'going nowhere' after he had missed out on a promotion. The hearing continues.
