Australian of the Year finalist stole hundreds of thousands in public money, inquiry hears

An Australian of the Year finalist and migrant women’s rights campaigner rorted hundreds of thousands of dollars of government money, a corruption inquiry hears.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is investigating allegations Eman Sharobeem misused a credit card and submitted invoices for money she was not entitled to when she was CEO of the Immigrant Women’s Health Service (IWHS) and the Non-English Speaking Housing Women’s scheme (NESH).

Both were non-profit groups funded by the New South Wales Government.

She is also accused of lying about having psychology degrees to further her career.

The Counsel Assisting the inquiry, Ramesh Rajalingam, said the alleged corrupt conduct occurred in the 10 years prior to 2016.

He said it related to hundreds of thousands of dollars, including around $400,000 for shopping and personal services.

“They were both organisations originally set up to provide funding and support to essentially women and children from disadvantaged and low socio-economic groups,” he said.

Stolen funds spent on ‘jewellery, clothing’, inquiry hears

The inquiry heard that between 2009 and 2015, reimbursements of more than $400,000 were made to Ms Sharobeem’s personal accounts from IWHS.

They were for groceries, men’s products, jewellery, clothing, hair and beauty services, penalty notices and State Debt Recovery Office enforcement orders.

The receipts she sought reimbursement for were from Harvey Norman, Bing Lee, Eye Concept, Andrews Designer Jewellery, Eternity Jewellers, Lily Room Cosmetics, S&S Hair & Beauty, IKEA, David Jones, Myer, Bonnyrigg Garden Centre and also for dental work.

“Public funds were effectively used for the purchase of a Mercedes Benz registered in the name of Ms Sharobeem’s husband Haiman Hammo,” the Counsel Assisting told the inquiry.

Ms Sharobeem also allegedly used a IWHS credit card for payments to Fitness First, Lite ‘N’ Easy and Foxtel for herself or family members.

“She also used the IWHS credit card to make payments to Sydney Water for services connected to a number of properties she opened,” Mr Rajalingam said.

He said the money included reimbursements “even where retailers had refunded the amount”.

He said that in addition to her salary, Ms Sharobeem fraudulently claimed around $100,000 in facilitation fees from IWHS and NESH and she submitted false time sheets in made-up names.

She is also accused of authorising payments to accounts in the names of her sons, Charlie and Richard Sharobeem.

Home renovated with public money, inquiry hears

The inquiry heard Ms Sharobeem used more than $52,000 in government money to renovate her Fairfield home which she purchased in 2011 for $660,000 and sold for $1.3 million in 2016.

In addition, Ms Sharobeem is accused of falsifying health services statistics to get more government funding and dishonestly authorising substantial payments from NESH to her own accounts….

Source: Australian of the Year finalist stole hundreds of thousands in public money, inquiry hears – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)