Prosecutors have quietly laid criminal charges against a former Australian of the Year finalist, seven years after the corruption watchdog delivered a scathing report.
Eman Sharobeem, formerly of both the Immigrant Women's Health Service (IWHS) and the Non-English Speaking Housing Women's Scheme (NESH), was accused by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption in 2018 of rorting almost $800,000 from the charities.
Seven years later, the NSW director of public prosecutions hit Sharobeem with a range of charges, including 24 counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.
Laid on September 15, the charges also include four counts of obtaining money by deception, three counts of publishing false or misleading material to obtain advantage and two counts of making a false statement under oath.
In 2018, ICAC alleged Sharobeem transferred more than $440,000 of IWHS funds to her own bank account, along with reportedly using their money in payments to Sydney Water and the State Debt Recovery Office.
Other allegations stemming from the ICAC investigation included arranging the IWHS to pay $60,000 for work on her property and submitting $140,000 in invoices that falsely claimed she and her sons worked as facilitators.
Sharobeem was also accused of using NESH money to reimburse herself for payments she made for her son's liposuction.
Sharobeem, who has been contacted for comment, asserted her innocence throughout the hearings, at one point claiming she had framed by her colleagues.
Responding to an allegation she used charity money to pay for a luxury car, Sharobeem responded: "I wouldn't take the organisation's money and pay for a Mercedes. I'm not stupid."
The NSW finalist for the Local Hero category of the 2015 Australian of the Year awards, Sharobeem was nominated for her work as chief executive of the Immigrant Women's Health Service, and her contribution to women's rights.
The National Australia Day Council, who run the awards, dropped her name from previous nominees after the ICAC investigation started in 2017.
Sharobeem is due to appear in the Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday.
