Salim Mehajer fined $3300 for failing to disclose political donations
FORMER Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer has been fined $3300 and ordered to pay professional costs after pleading guilty to failing to disclose political donations.
NSW
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COLOURFUL property developer and former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer, has been convicted and fined $3300 for failing to disclose political donations.
Mehajer did not appear at Downing Centre Local Court but sent a letter pleading guilty to failing to lodge a disclosure of political donations and electoral expenditure in the financial year of 2015 and 2016.
The court heard it was the second time Mehajer had failed to declare his political donations and electoral expenditure after failing to lodge a disclosure of 2013 and 2014.
Upon sentencing Mehajer, Magistrate Megan Greenwood said his punishment needed to deter other elected officials from committing the same offence.
“The community has a right to expect the highest standard from elected officials, this issue of the declaration of donations strikes at the heart of openness and transparency,” she said.
Mehajer was elected to Auburn Council in September 2012.
Last year, however, Auburn Council was dismissed and merged with nearby Holroyd Council leaving Mehajer with no status as an elected member.
The NSW Electoral Commission sent Mehajer a reminder letter to lodge a disclosure of political donations on June 18 last year.
This was followed by an email in August and a warning letter in November.
He was charged in December.
Ms Greenwood ordered Mehajer pay the prosecution’s court costs of $3487.62 on top of the $3300 fine.