Real estate agent Glenn Farah disqualified until 2021

The licence of former leading Maroubra estate agent Glenn Farah has been cancelled and NSW Fair Trading has disqualified him from being involved in the direction, management or conduct of a real estate business until September 2021.

Glenn Farah was previously director and secretary NG Farah Pty Ltd, a licensed Sydney south eastern suburbs real estate agency.

The company employs over 50 staff and has three branch offices at Coogee, Kingsford and Little Bay.

In September 2011, Farah pleaded guilty in the Sydney District Court to dealing in proceeds of crime and was sentenced to one year and nine months' imprisonment. The Court suspended his sentence and he was released on a good behaviour bond until June 2013.

Farah was the subject of an Australian Federal Police investigation and subsequent prosecution and conviction. Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe said that as a result of Farah’s criminal conviction for recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime, Fair Trading commenced disciplinary action against him as the holder of a real estate agents licence.

“In light of his criminal conviction, Fair Trading directed Glenn Farah to show cause why his licence should not be cancelled,” he said.  “Licence holders are expected to operate in an honest and professional manner.

“The licensing system is designed to ensure a high level of financial integrity so that consumers face minimal risks and can be confident in their dealings with licensed agents and certificate holders.”

Farah’s criminal conviction meant he ceased to be a fit and proper person to hold a real estate agents licence. “Fair Trading took the appropriate action and cancelled Glenn Farah’s licence to ensure he could not continue to operate in the NSW real estate industry,” Stowe said.

Glenn George Farah challenged NSW Fair Trading’s licence cancellation and disqualification, however an internal review affirmed the decision.

The Fair Trading ruling dates back to 2009 when the Australian Federal Police raided The Marine Parade, Maroubra, estate agency and Farah was later charged with laundering a total of $46,500 for Wayne Cleveland, the Maroubra-based  Australian principal of a syndicate that imported cocaine from the US with the help of corrupt staff employed by Gate Gourmet, a catering company servicing various airlines at Sydney Airport.

Farah's lawyer, Bruce Walmsley, SC, told the 2001 court hearing his client had ''foolishly turned a blind eye'' and should have been more alert to what Cleveland was up to. He had been friendly with him since about 2003 and had thought of Cleveland as a ''knockabout, happy-go-lucky guy''.

It was in 2008 when the now convicted drug dealer Wayne Cleveland had tried to pay Cranbrook school fees in cash, and after being declined Cleveland then turned to his friend Glenn Farah. The Australian Federal Police were listening to Cleveland's phone calls so were able to nab Farah after, in return for cash, a number of cheques were drawn on a Macquarie Bank account in the name of Glenn Farah Real Estate and used to help pay the Cranbrook fees.

The federal police's telephone intercepts ran for about 20 months, and the court was told there was not ''even a hint'' in recorded conversations that Farah knew about his friend's drug dealing.

The Crown prosecutor David Huen agreed there was no evidence Farah knew of Cleveland's illegal activities.

The N G Farah agency opened in 1962 when established by Nassim G Farah and his wife Doreen. It's been an award-winning business accredited with numerous suburb and street records.

The N G Farah Project Marketing Pty Ltd featured in BRW's elite list of  "Top 100" fast starter companies.

It's also been well regarded for its support of the local community being sponsors over the years of numerous clubs including Randwick Rugby, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Pagewood Soccer Club, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Coogee Randwick Football Club and the Matraville Tigers.