Salim Mehajer charged after car crash investigation
EMBATTLED and flamboyant property developer Salim Mehajer will spend the night behind bars after he was accused of staging a Sydney car crash to prevent a court matter going ahead.
NSW
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EMBATTLED and flamboyant property developer Salim Mehajer will spend the night behind bars after he was accused of staging a Sydney car crash to prevent a court matter going ahead.
The controversial businessman applied for bail during an appearance at Waverley Local Court today but magistrate Jennifer Giles adjourned her decision until Wednesday.
Police will allege the former Auburn deputy mayor colluded with his wedding planner business associate Ahmed Jaghbir in order to stage the crash at Lidcombe in October last year.
Mehajer and Jaghbir were arrested this morning and refused bail to face court this afternoon charged with perverting the course of justice and conspiracy to cheat and defraud.
Police will allege Jaghbir allegedly introduced Mehajer to a western Sydney couple who agreed to be involved in the fake crash on October 16.
Jaghbir is defending an unrelated murder charge following the death of underworld figure Kemel Barakat.
Elias and Malinda Mouffrrige were arrested this morning at Lidcombe and have been released on bail from Auburn police station after being charged with conspiracy to cheat and defraud.
Police will allege Mrs Mouffrrige was the driver of a Mitsibishi which collided with Mehajer’s Mercedes 4WD on Nicholas and Delhi streets at Lidcombe.
Two more people were arrested at Auburn Police Station at 1.30pm today, taking the total to six of those allegedly involved in what police will allege in court was a planned crash with the group conspiring before and after the incident, and providing fraudulent versions of events to investigators and insurance companies.
A 28-year-old Lidcombe man and a 30-year-old Lidcombe woman are also expected to be charged with conspiracy to cheat and defraud.
Police allege in court documents Jaghbir “pre-planned” and “orchestrated” a staged motor vehicle collision to prevent Mehajer from attending a court hearing.
It is also alleged Jaghbir conspired with Michael Moufferrige, Elias Moufferrige, Fakahe Moufferrige and Nora-Anne Bush to cheat and defraud Insurance Australia Group.
Jaghbir’s matter was briefly heard this afternoon in Bankstown local court.
His lawyer Mahmoud Abbas told the magistrate there would be no release application today and it would instead be done tomorrow.
The matter was adjourned to tomorrow for a release application by audio visual link.
Documents outlining reasons to consider in bail stated that Jaghbir lives with his wife and parents in Guildford.
“He works with his brother and states he earns a minimal amount here and there,” the court documents say.
“The accused is currently on conditional bail for murder and is due to return to court in February this year in relation to that charge.”
Police also state that: “It is highly likely that the accused has criminal associates given the allegations”.
“The accused is currently on bail for the shooting murder of a man in Mortlake,” it adds.
“The accused has shown a complete disregard for the judicial system and has shown no remorse in relation to the matters.”
Police identify unacceptable risks that Jaghbir would commit a serious offence, endanger the community or interfere with witnesses or evidence.
Flemington Local Area Commander Detective Superintendent Philip Rogerson told media that it was alleged Mehajer was trying to prevent his court hearing going ahead that day.
“It’s in relation to the car accident. All these persons are in the charge process as we speak,” he said.
“I can say that the pervert the course of justice was in relation to the court matter on that day and the cheat and defraud was in relation to the insurance culminating out of the car accident.”
He said if those accused were found guilty then they would face “lengthy terms”.
Pervert the course of justice carries a maximum sentence of 14 years behind bars.
On the day of the crash Mehajer was due at an all-day hearing for charges relating to the assault of a taxi driver outside The Star Casino in April.
But instead, the man who gained national notoriety after closing off public streets for a showy multimillion-dollar wedding in 2015, ended up being ferried to hospital in a NSW ambulance, laid out on a stretcher, wrapped in a neck brace and pumped full of painkillers.
Lying motionless, Mr Mehajer had to be cut free by rescue workers armed with metal-cutting jaws of life, leaving his luxury vehicle a doorless wreck.
The colourful businessman spent most of the day in hospital where he underwent scans to his neck.