A school principal is one of two men accused of masterminding an elaborate scheme that stole up to $1.4million from the NSW Department of Education.
Rabieh Gharibeh, 37, and his brother-in-law Ahmed Charchouh, 38, were arrested during dramatic raids in western Sydney on Wednesday morning.
Police will allege Gharibeh, the principal of Sir Joseph Banks High School, and Charcoah, the director of a building company, mismanaged funds intended for maintenance and building works between 2022 and 2024.
The pair are accused of stealing $1.4million from the Department of Education through 86 fraudulent invoices between August 2022 and November 2024 at two schools in Sydney’s west.
Gharibeh was the principal of Granville South Creative and Performing Arts High School in Guildford until the end of 2022 before he transferred to Sir Joseph Banks High School in Revesby the following year.
NSW Police will allege Charchouh helped ‘facilitate the fraudulent claims’ at schools where Gharibeh was employed as principal.
Investigators under Strike Force Heidi executed three search warrants in Georges Hall, Yagoona and Revesby, in Sydney’s west, early on Wednesday morning.
Police allegedly seized electronic items, $42,000 in cash, luxury watches and a ballistics vest.
Sir Joseph Banks High School principal Rabieh Gharibeh (pictured) who was arrested over his alleged role in a $1.4million fraud scheme targeting the NSW Department of Education
Photos from the early morning raids shows tactical officers carrying out the arrest at addresses in Georges Hall and Yagoona.
One man was seen being held up against the wall by a detective after he had been handcuffed by police.
The man, who was wearing a black singlet and a pair of black shorts, was later seen being spoken to by police as officers surrounded him while he sat on the porch.
The other man was seen with his hands clasped together in the middle of his chest after he was brought to Bankstown Police Station following his arrest.
One of the men (pictured) was seen with his hands clasped together in the middle of his chest after he was brought to Bankstown Police Station following his arrest
He was earlier led out of his home in a grey t-shirt and black shorts with white stripes on the sides before he was led away into a waiting police car.
Both men were taken Bankstown Police Station after they were arrested.
The pair have been charged with 60 offences each including dishonestly obtaining financial advantage and corruptly receiving financial advantage.
Both men are expected to be refused bail and will front Bankstown Local Court today.
Another man was seen being held up against the wall by a detective (pictured) after he had been handcuffed by police
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