Simon Wakim’s Galleria SUV luxury car dealership has licence cancelled by NSW Fair Trading

Sydney’s go-to man for extravagant luxury cars has potentially sold his last Lamborghini after a rare and decisive move against him.

EXCLUSIVE

Editor’s Note: In March 2021, 13 of the charges against Mr Wakim were withdrawn by police including the charges of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception and demand with menaces. The remaining three were dismissed by a Magistrate. The charges alleging links between Mr Wakim and a bikie gang were never proven in court.

A Sydney car salesman famed for sourcing some of the city’s most exclusive rides has potentially sold his last Lamborghini after state officials took the rare step of permanently cancelling his dealership’s licence.

Simon Wakim’s luxury car dealership Galleria SUV has had its motor dealer’s licence disqualified by NSW Fair Trading after Mr Wakim was charged by police over several alleged offences earlier this year.

Mr Wakim has been charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception; demanding property with menaces; eight counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend; and seven counts of stalking and intimidation.

Police allege he helped a group of 30 Comanchero bikies to prevent liquidators from repossessing luxury cars that had been put up as security against a loan.

Police also allege he deceived the company Solomon’s Capital out of $950,000, and made threats against individuals.

Mr Wakim has told a tribunal he intends to fight the charges, which are currently proceeding through the Local Court.

One of the cars put up as security for the loan was a purple Lamborghini Aventador, similar to the one in this picture. Picture: Instagram via NCA NewsWire

Fair Trading investigations and enforcement chief Valerie Griswold said the seriousness of the allegations motivated the permanent ban against Galleria SUV.

“This is only the fourth time in the past three years that the disciplinary action unit has permanently cancelled a motor dealer licence, so that should communicate how seriously we consider these charges to be,” Ms Griswold said.

“We make these decisions based on whether or not a person or director is deemed fit and proper to hold a licence, and based on the allegations made by NSW police, Mr Wakim was deemed to be not fit and proper.

“A motor dealer is a public facing occupation and our job at NSW Fair Trading is to protect consumers.”

Last month, the Civil and Administrative Tribunal shot down an attempt by Mr Wakim to prevent the company’s licence from being temporarily suspended.

According to the tribunal decision the alleged bikie confrontation happened two days before Christmas last year.

It is alleged liquidators went to Galleria to repossess the cars put up against the loan and were met by “30 people purportedly involved in the Comanchero Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (who) prevented the removal of the vehicles”, the decision states.

Among the cars that had previously been put in a secure location to guarantee the loan was a purple Lamborghini Aventador, the tribunal said.

The permanent disqualification of Galleria’s license will prevent it from “being a licence holder or involved in the direction, management or conduct of a business”, Fair Trading said.

Mr Wakim’s lawyer has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Simon Wakim’s Galleria SUV luxury car dealership has licence cancelled by NSW Fair Trading