QUEENS, NY – Zabihullah Ibrahimi, a New York City building inspector, has been charged with multiple counts of bribery and official misconduct, as announced by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Ibrahimi, 42, was arraigned today on accusations of soliciting cash bribes from homeowners to close complaints regarding their properties improperly.
The charges stem from several incidents where Ibrahimi allegedly exploited his official capacity for personal gain. In one instance, he reportedly demanded $3,500 from a homeowner, instructing her to withdraw the money while he waited outside. On another occasion, he accepted $140 as part of a deal to dismiss a violation and falsely closed another case by claiming he could not gain entry to perform an inspection.
DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber emphasized the severity of the misconduct, noting that Ibrahimi’s actions betrayed public trust and undermined safety regulations. The Department of Buildings, under Commissioner Jimmy Oddo, has responded by suspending Ibrahimi and auditing his past inspections to ensure no further misconduct.
If convicted, Ibrahimi faces up to seven years in prison. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 17.