Salim Mehajer tells court: ‘Aysha and I are still together’
DISGRACED former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer has told a court he is still with his estranged wife and their apparent separation is just a ruse to keep her out of the media spotlight.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
DISGRACED former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer has told a court he is still with his estranged wife and their apparent separation is just a ruse to keep her out of the media spotlight.
“She wants to get out of the media and she acts like she is not with me but she is with me,” Mehajer told a Sydney court.
“We are not (separated), we are still together, we are talking.”
Mehajer made the statement while under cross-examination from Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecution lawyer Liam Cavell as he gave evidence in support of varying his bail conditions to allow him to travel overseas before Central Local Court on Thursday.
News the couple are still together and are talking comes as a surprise given police were granted an extension of a temporary apprehended violence order against Mehajer on behalf his wife Aysha Mehajer earlier this month at Sutherland Local Court.
As part of the AVO conditions Mehajer is not allowed to contact or approach Aysha. A final decision on a permanent AVO scheduled for March next year.
Gallery: Auburn deputy mayor’s lavish wedding
But Mehajer seemed unaware of this with Mr Cavell asking: “You are aware that there is an AVO out against you with regard to Aysha Mehajer?”
Mehajer: “I am not too familiar with the AVOs. All I know is that we do talk and we are still married.”
The colourful property developer’s bail variation was refused by Magistrate Beverley Schurr who cited concerns that he may fail to appear at his next court date and the worth of the surety offered by him in the form his heavily mortgaged home at Francis St, Lidcombe.
READ MORE: SALIM PAYS FOR TIME WITH RAP MUSIC ROYALTY
Mehajer told the court he needed to travel as he had lined up meetings with potential investors in China and had to meet members of a syndicate in Beijing and Shanghai between November 21 and December 5 in order to secure money for four new property developments in western Sydney as he tries to relaunch his business empire.
Mehajer told the court he had four development applications which were either approved or close to be being approved for developments in Lidcombe, Blacktown and Canada Bay.
He is currently restricted from flying overseas to chase Chinese cash as he continues to fight more than 70 charges of forging Australian Electoral Commission enrolments and fabricating a number of addresses for friends and family to allegedly help him gain a seat on Auburn Council during the 2012 elections.
Earlier this year Mehajer’s sister, Fatima, pleaded guilty to 77 charges of providing false and misleading information on AEC enrolments prior to the same council election and is currently awaiting sentence. She faces the prospect of up to 12 months behind bars.
The refusal to vary his bail conditions is Mehajer’s second legal defeat this week after he pleaded guilty, via a letter to the court, on Tuesday that he failed to disclose political donations. He was convicted and fined $3300 and also ordered to pay the prosecution’s court costs of $3487.62.
Mehajer is due back before Central LC in early December for his electoral fraud matters.