A former NSW transport official is accused of taking a $50,000 bribe to award road contracts to a company, leading to a major corruption probe.

A former Transport for NSW official, Ibrahim Helmy, is accused of accepting a $50,000 cash bribe from a contractor in exchange for awarding road work to the company Roadverge, according to an ongoing ICAC inquiry. Evidence includes a spreadsheet showing $250,000 in payments linked to a $4.1 million overvaluation of projects, and text messages discussing kickback meeting expenses. Helmy, who evaded authorities for four months before being found hiding in a Sydney cupboard, remains in custody. Investigators seized a Maserati, gold bars, cryptocurrency, and over $12,000 in cash as part of Operation Wyvern, the fourth ICAC probe into procurement corruption at the agency since 2019.