Financial Crime Squad detectives have arrested two men over alleged fraud and corruption offences against the NSW Department of Education under Strike Force Heidi.
Strike Force Heidi was established in April 2024 by State Crime Command's Financial Crime Squad, with assistance from the NSW Department of Education, to investigate the allegation a school employee was mis-managing funds intended for maintenance and building works at schools in Guildford and Revesby.
During the investigation, it was identified the employee had assistance from another man known to him, who was the director of a building company, and helped facilitate the fraudulent claims.
Following extensive inquiries, from 4am today (Wednesday 4 December 2024), strike force detectives – with assistance from Raptor Squad – executed three search warrants in Georges Hall, Yagoona, and Revesby.
Police located and seized electronics, $42,400 cash, a ballistics vest, and luxury watches.
At the Georges Hall address, detectives arrested a 37-year-old man. In Yagoona, they arrested a 38-year-old man.
The men were taken to Bankstown Police Station, where they are in the process of being charged with over 60 charges each, comprised of dishonestly obtain financial advantage, attempt to dishonestly obtain financial advantage, agent corruptly receive benefit and direct/participate in a criminal group.
They are expected to be refused bail to appear in Bankstown Local Court today.
Police will allege in court between August 2022 and November 2024, the men fraudulently claimed nearly $1.4 million dollars from the Department of Education through 86 separate invoices.
Investigations under Strike Force Heidi are ongoing.
