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Salim Mehajer electoral fraud case ‘powerful’

A “POWERFUL” electoral fraud case against former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer remains largely unanswered and is unanswerable, a Sydney court has heard.

Salim Mehajer denied bail

A “POWERFUL” electoral fraud case against former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer remains largely unanswered and is unanswerable, a Sydney court has heard.

Mehajer, 31, is fighting more than 100 charges relating to the 2012 election that put him on Auburn City Council, and on Thursday magistrate Beverley Schurr heard final submissions following a hearing last year.

Former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer. Picture: AAP
Former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer. Picture: AAP

Commonwealth prosecutor Jeremy Rapke QC said the intricate but powerful case against Mehajer was in large part unanswered and unanswerable and the defence’s final written submissions, except for two or three, didn’t address the evidence.

READ MORE: The fast times and rapid fall of Salim Mehajer

Last month, the embattled and flamboyant property developer was also arrested and charged with staging a Sydney car crash to prevent a court matter going ahead.

Mehajer had been due at an all-day hearing for charges relating to the assault of a taxi driver outside The Star Casino in April.

Salim Mehajer is treated after the accident in Lidcombe last October. Picture: Kelly Fedor
Salim Mehajer is treated after the accident in Lidcombe last October. Picture: Kelly Fedor

He spent a night behind bars while his bail application was considered.

The court heard that police will allege Mehajer colluded with his wedding planner business associate Ahmed Jaghbir in order to stage a crash in Lidcombe last October.

They were both charged with perverting the course of justice and conspiracy to cheat and defraud.

Pervert the course of justice carries a maximum sentence of 14 years behind bars.

MORE TO COME

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/salim-mehajer-electoral-fraud-case-powerful/news-story/ba91ff7866240933500bee435677ddcf