Police search home of Salim Mehajer
POLICE have today searched the house of controversial former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer in relation to a car crash he allegedly had on the way to court last month.
NSW
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POLICE have seized several items, including a computer, during a raid on the home of former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer in relation to a crash he allegedly had on his way to face serious charges at a Sydney court.
Officers raided his property at Francis St, Lidcombe this morning after Mehajer said he was involved in a car crash in October which prevented him from attending the Sydney Downing Centre, in Sydney, to face a hearing in relation to the alleged assault of a taxi driver.
Detectives were seen leaving his home in Lidcombe carrying a number of paper bags.
The raid happened as removalists were loading some of Mehajer’s furniture into a truck.
A removalist, who did not want to be named, said up to 15 officers conducted the raid as he and his colleagues were removing items from the home. They’d been booked on Tuesday to move a bed, dining table, desk and other items to an address in Watson’s Bay or Vaucluse.
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“The police came and said we needed to stop work and wait a couple of hours until they’ve finished investigating the house,” the mover said. The removal truck was also searched.
Mehajer arrived at the home in a Range Rover before 2pm. He left in a BMW about 10 minutes later after with officers inside.
The colourful property developer was filmed lying on a stretcher and being loaded into the back of an ambulance after the alleged crash in his white Mercedes on Delhi St, Lidcombe about 9am on October 16.
He was taken to Westmead Hospital and his lawyer told a court he would be unable to face the hearing where he was to face allegations he bashed a taxi driver with an EFTPOS machine after he had been picked up from The Star casino in the early hours of April 2.
One of his lawyers, Mahmoud Abbas, told reporters the crash was an accident.
“It is just ridiculous if you are insinuating anything,” he said.
At the time the 31-year-old was also expected to face the court later in the week in relation to the alleged assault of Channel Seven journalist Laura Banks.
► Mehajer allegedly linked to NRMA fraud
► Mehajer crashes car, misses court date
He allegedly assaulted Ms Banks when she was attempting to question him over the alleged taxi driver assault and she became caught in the door of a Porsche outside Sydney City Police Station on Day St, Sydney.
NSW Police issued a statement shortly after officers executed a search warrant this morning at Mehajer’s house.
“A planned police operation is underway in Sydney’s southwest this morning,” a spokesman said.
“The search warrant relates to an ongoing investigation.”