There's no evidence Former Australian of the year state finalist Eman Sharobeem repaid public funds used to buy her husband a Mercedes car, a Sydney corruption inquiry has heard.
Sharobeem has told the Independent Commission Against Corruption she mistakenly gave a western Sydney car dealer an $18,000 cheque from the Immigrant Women's Health Service, instead of her personal bank account.
The confusion arose when her husband, Haiman Hammo, impulsively bought a $35,000 used Mercedes Benz hatchback while the pair was shopping for two cars for the two health services she was running, she said on Friday.
However, the $18,000 cheque was made out on December 28, 2014 - the day before Sharobeem said they first went to the car dealership.
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She made out another cheque on December 29 for $18,695 to buy an IWHS car from another dealer.
"None of it adds up, does it Ms Sharobeem?" counsel assisting ICAC Ramesh Rajalingam said.
He asked if she had intended to buy her husband a car.
"No, that's an accusation, sir, not a question," Sharobeem said.
"Can I just add that in any person's life mistakes could happen but there's no way a person in their own - even sick or ill - brain would go and pay for a Mercedes for a charity.
"Do not try to change a mistake to a crime, please don't."
In emails shown to the commission, Sharobeem told an auditor she would refund the amount to IWHS.
But after looking over her bank statements, Mr Rajalingam said he couldn't find an $18,000 withdrawal from that time.
Sharobeem fired up over accusations she blamed the bookkeeper for the mistake in an email.
"You're trying to confuse the points and confuse the witness as well, so kindly focus on the matter at hand," Sharobeem told Mr Rajalingam.
She later accused him of mocking her. The inquiry continues.
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