Bullet casings ‘left as warning’ for former Salim Mehajer associate

CONTROVERSIAL property developer Salim Mehajer is at the centre of yet another police investigation after bullet casings were found outside a former business associate’s home in a sensational extortion bid.

Former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer picks up a pizza order from the front of his Lidcombe home yesterday. Picture: Toby Zerna

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SPENT bullet casings, menacing phone calls, a sensational demand for cash — and the common link is that all the victims are former business associates of disgraced former deputy mayor and controversial property developer Salim Mehajer.

In the latest incident, a former director of one of Mr Mehajer’s flailing companies claims he received a threatening phone call in a “robotic voice” demanding he cough up more than $70 million.

”Yep, yep, they left it on the fence for some reason ...” Picture: Toby Zerna

The caller warned that he knew the man’s name and where he lived, referring to “gunshots” serving as a “warning”.

The following day the victim found at least two bullet casings outside his southwest Sydney home.

A team of State Crime Command detectives is now investigating what Mr Mehajer, former deputy mayor of Auburn, knows about the alleged intimidation tactics and whether he has been a victim himself.

The multi-skilling former politician pins his phone to his shoulder, wears a hoodie and picks up the pizza boxes at the same time. But did he have to come back for the drink? Would it still be there? Picture: Toby Zerna

At least he didn’t lock himself out. Picture: Toby Zerna

The latest threat, allegedly made on October 13, is one of a handful being investigated by police after a common thread emerged between the victims and Mr Mehajer’s struggling business empire.

While some of those threatened are overseas, the latest alleged target is based in Sydney.

The Sunday Telegraph has agreed not to identify the victim, who works for a law firm, or his workplace.

Salim Mehajer was hospitalised following an accident in Lidcombe last week. Picture: Seven News

The man who received the call had been involved in a soured business arrangement with Mr Mehajer over funding for a Lidcombe development.

It is understood the man’s firm was able to find Chinese investors who would provide a loan of $60 million but at 27 per cent interest.

In June, Sydney Project Group, of which Mr Mehajer is the sole shareholder, descended into deep financial trouble and any prospect of the high-interest loan being repaid quickly diminished.

It emerged in the NSW Supreme Court that creditors were chasing SPG and another Mehajer company for almost $100 million. However, the companies only had $32,000 in the bank.

Mr Mehajer fought to keep administrators from taking over the businesses, which he claimed held $100 million in assets, but failed.

Mehajer came to the public’s attention due to his extravagant wedding in 2015. He and his wife Aysha have since split. Picture: Toby Zerna

When asked about the latest case, a police spokeswoman said: “Police are investigating after empty cartridge cases were found outside a home near Liverpool on October 14. Initial inquiries indicate the casings were not the result of a shooting at that location.”

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Ever since Mr Mehajer thrust himself into the limelight in 2015 when his lavish wedding blocked the streets around his home, turning him into a publicly recognisable figure, he has been fighting battles on multiple fronts.

Tradesmen are pursuing him through the courts for unpaid wages, the Australian Federal Police has accused him of electoral fraud and after less than a year of marriage, his wife filed for divorce.

Last week, on the day his trial for allegedly assaulting a taxi driver outside The Star Casino was scheduled to start, he was involved a car crash and taken to hospital. Although he was laid up for less than 24 hours, his trial was delayed until next year.

The list of his woes was added to last week when it was revealed police were also investigating whether a string of car accidents involving vehicles registered to Mr Mehajer were staged by the drivers for insurance pay outs.