Taxi assault makes Salim Mehajer cabbies’ Enemy No. 1

SALIM Mehajer has accused police in a bizarre Facebook rant of ‘appalling behaviour’ after he was charged with assaulting a TV reporter hours after allegedly assaulting a taxi driver.

• HOW YESTERDAY’S DEVELOPMENTS UNFOLDED

SALIM Mehajer has accused police in a bizarre rant on social media of “appalling behaviour” after he was charged with assaulting a TV reporter hours after allegedly assaulting a taxi driver at Sydney’s Star Casino.

The flashy former Auburn deputy mayor hit back on his Facebook page at arresting police, accusing a senior constable involved in his arrest on Sunday morning of acting inappropriately.

The property developer posted a video posted to Facebook late Sunday night that appears to show an officer smiling and giving the finger.

TV reporter Banks confronts Mehajer

Mehajer after leaving police station

“Appalling behaviour by the SENIOR Constable in charge of todays ‘ALLEGATIONS’,” Mehajer wrote on Facebook.

He added an unattributed quote: “Sir, place a million cameras in front of me and all you’ll see is my smile.”

Mehajer was last night charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm after Seven Network journalist Laura Banks was injured attempting to question him after he spent the night in police custody.

An image from the video Mehajer posted on Facebook

Banks made a complaint to police after Mehajer forcibly slammed a car door shut on her arm as he left Sydney City Central Police Station yesterday.

The flashy former Auburn deputy mayor had only moments earlier been charged with stealing a taxi driver’s EFTPOS machine and then tossing it at his head following a scuffle at The Star casino in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Last night, Mehajer posted a video to Facebook appearing to show an officer smiling and giving the finger during his arrest. “Appalling behaviour by the SENIOR Constable in charge of todays ‘ALLEGATIONS’,” Mehajer wrote on Facebook.

He also posted an unattributed quote: “Sir, Place a million cameras in front of me and all you’ll see is my smile”.

Salim Mehajer is released from police custody yesterday after being charged with assault. Picture: Brianne Makin

The Daily Telegraph broke the story of Mr Mehajer’s arrest yesterday morning after he allegedly stole the machine and the driver’s mobile phone while getting out of the taxi at The Star about 4.30am.

He allegedly returned the machine by throwing it, injuring the 38-year-old driver’s nose, and the phone was found a short distance from the car.

Salim Mehajer emerges after spending the night in police cells following the alleged assault of a taxi driver this morning. Picture: Brianne Makin

The 30-year-old spent the night in the Day St policr cells in Sydney. Picture: Brianne Makin

Mr Mehajer, 30, was arrested in Darlinghurst 40 minutes later.

Police charged him with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and larceny before releasing him from cells about 12.30pm.

The developer initially tried to grab a cab, but was quickly told to get out. Picture: Brianne Makin

But as he came out of custody he walked straight into a second fracas with another taxi driver, this time in front of a press pack.

As he jumped in the back of the taxi the driver was informed by journalists that his passenger had just been charged with assaulting a driver hours earlier.

Looking smug, Salim Mehajer, disgraced former deputy major of Auburn leaves Day St Police station after an assault arrest overnight, Sydney, Australia, 02 April 2017.

“No, no, I’m not going to take you … get out,” the driver said.

Mr Mehajer refused to leave the taxi as the driver got out of the car. “It’s my choice, I don’t want to drive them,” he said.

Eventually a police officer ­arrived and ordered Mr Mehajer out of the cab. He refused and the officer had to force him out.

Mr Mehajer was left to wander awkwardly in circles until a friend arrived in a white sports car and the pair sped off.

The driver of learns of the assault of a fellow cabbie and refuses take Mehajer as a passenger.

The stand-off between police and Mehajer. Picture: Brianne Makin

An officer ejects him from the taxi after the driver refused to take his fare. Picture: Brianne Makin

Mr Mehajer earlier said “I love Emad” when asked how he felt about convicted murderer Emad Sleiman being sent back to jail.

Sleiman was shot in the chest and leg in Auburn last week, before Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad police revoked his parole on Friday.

Mr Mehajer has been in trouble with the law on numerous occasions in the past. He is due to face Downing Centre Court on March 26 to answer these latest charges.

Mr Mehajer’s notoriety began with his opulent 2015 wedding, which shut down an entire ­Auburn street, sparking widespread outrage.

Deputy Auburn Mayor Salim Mehajer and his bride on their wedding day. Picture: Toby Zerna

And in November last year he was arrested on the Spanish ­island of Ibiza after another run-in with a cab driver, but on that occasion he was not charged.