Merrylands West: Jim Malamas sentenced after Cumberland Highway crash, Mohammad Saleh to face fate

A real estate agent who sped down a Sydney highway before a crash that ultimately claimed a young woman’s life has learnt his fate, as the driver responsible for the collision is set to face court.

Claire Georgey died a week after a horror crash at Merrylands. Picture: Instagram

A man charged after racing down a highway at Merrylands West a week before a young woman died in hospital was given a sentence he can serve in the community, while the driver behind the wheel of the illegal vehicle that collided with the victim’s car faces his fate this month.

Mohammad Abdulmunim Saleh and real estate agent Jim Spiros Malamas were charged with multiple offences including street racing after speeding along the Cumberland Highway in their high-performance cars on September 7, 2020.

In June this year, 46-year-old Malamas was convicted and sentenced to an 18-month community correction order after Judge Stephen Hanley shaved 25 per cent off the sentence because he pleaded guilty to driving recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous.

Saleh, of Guildford, was speeding before his Nissan Skyline sports car collided with Claire Georgey’s Subaru Forester wagon at the intersection of the highway and Bruce St at 10.30pm.

The 22-year-old’s vehicle burst into flames and she died after undergoing surgeries and clinging to life in hospital for a week.

Jim Malamas, of Greystanes, was handed a community correction order. Picture: Facebook

Almost three years after the horrific collision, facts tendered to Parramatta District Court reveal the moments before Saleh’s car ploughed into the car of Miss Georgey, who was driving home from work.

Saleh had met his mate Malamas at his Greystanes house, where each had a passenger friend with them, and they left shortly before 10.25pm to get food.

Malamas was driving his black Kia Stinger GT with a V6 twin turbo engine, which was registered to his business, Qwest Property Group, down the highway.

The court heard how he frequently changed lanes and wove across lines behind Saleh’s 800 horsepower car – which did not have a compliance certificate and was not legally allowed to be driven because of its modifications.

“The modifications made to the vehicle were made to improve performance and its ability to travel quickly,’’ the facts state.

A witness in his bedroom heard “cars revving loudly and spooling up”.

“He went out on to his balcony and saw two cars accelerate quickly from the traffic lights at the Merrylands Rd intersection,’’ the facts state.

“It was so quick, they moved so fast it was like they blurred as they raced past.’’

Mohammad Abdulmunim Saleh, who is responsible for the collision that led to Miss Georgey’s death, at a previous court appearance.

Another witness standing out the front of her house saw Saleh’s car drive past her “really fast” just before the collision.

“She first heard Saleh’s vehicle before turning to look at it ‘and then it just screamed past’,”.

He was driving close to 45km/h over the 70km/h speed limit.

Miss Georgey’s car spun into a traffic light pole and knocked it out of the ground.

She was trapped in her car “for some time” and suffered a cardiac arrest.

A policeman found her lying on the footpath where she was unconscious and not breathing. Along with an off-duty doctor and two off-duty nurses, he started CPR for about 20 minutes before she was taken to Westmead Hospital.

On the afternoon of September 14, Miss Georgey’s life support was switched off after she suffered multiple blunt force injuries.

Saleh’s passenger, who is now 35, suffered fractures and required multiple surgeries during three weeks in hospital.

Claire Georgey was driving home from work when a Mohammad Saleh’s car crashed into her wagon. Picture: Facebook

Malamas attended Parramatta police station on October 14, 2020, and was arrested. He told police he drove the Kia but was not involved in the collision.

Malamas had previously pleaded not guilty to all eight offences including aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death speeding more than 45km/h over the limit.

However, seven charges were discontinued or discharged in June after he pleaded guilty to driving recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous.

His two-year ban from holding a driver’s licence expired last October.

The maximum penalty for dangerous driving is nine months’ jail and/or a fine up to $2200.

Saleh pleaded guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death-drive speed dangerous and dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm – drive speed dangerous.

He initially pleaded not guilty to those charges.

The 35 year old will be sentenced at Parramatta District Court on August 31 and his bail was

continued.

Miss Georgey, a former Merrylands High School student, was remembered as a “bright, beaming light” by mourners who paid tribute to her following her death.

“Why this crazy world had to lose a beautiful ray of light,’’ one friend wrote online.

“Gone too soon precious Angel Claire. Love you forever Claire such a bright, beaming light.’’