Eman Sharobeem: Australian of the Year finalist cops ICAC charges
Prosecutors have quietly laid criminal charges against the former Australian of the Year finalist, seven years after the corruption watchdog delivered a scathing report.
Eman Sharobeem, formerly of the Immigrant Women’s Health Service (IWHS) and Non-English Speaking Women’s Housing Scheme (NESH), was accused by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption in 2018 of receiving almost $800,000 from charities.
Seven years later, the NSW director of public prosecutions indicted Sharobeem on a raft of charges, including 24 charges of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.
The charges, filed on September 15, include four counts of obtaining money by deception, three counts of publishing false or misleading material to obtain an advantage and two counts of making false statements under oath.
ICAC alleged that in 2018 Sharobeem transferred more than $440,000 of IWHS funds into his own bank account and used the money to make payments to Sydney Water and the State Debt Collection Office.
Other allegations arising from the ICAC investigation included arranging for IWHS to pay $60,000 for work on his property and submitting $140,000 in invoices falsely claiming that he and his sons were working as facilitators.
Sharobeem was also accused of using NESH money to cover payments for her son’s liposuction surgery.
Contacted for comment, Sharobeem maintained his innocence throughout the hearings and at one point claimed he was framed by his colleagues.
Responding to allegations that he used charity money to buy a luxury car, Sharobeem responded: “I wouldn’t take the organization’s money and pay for a Mercedes. I’m not stupid.”
Sharobeem, a NSW finalist in the Local Hero category of the 2015 Australian of the Year awards, was nominated for her work as chief executive of the Migrant Women’s Health Service and her contribution to women’s rights.
The National Australia Day Council, which runs the awards, removed his name from previous nominees following the start of an ICAC investigation in 2017.
Sharobeem is expected to appear at Downing Center Local Court on Thursday.
