Ivan Sarakula: MAFS star admits using phone while driving: court

A former Married At First Sight contestant caught using his phone while driving three times in two weeks said he was overwhelmed by media attention when he became “an overnight celebrity”.

A Married At First Sight groom who said he became an “overnight celebrity” admitted he had become obsessed with his phone before he was busted using it while driving three times in two weeks.

Sydney real estate agent and 2020 MAFS contestant Ivan Sarakula, 31, was caught on camera using his mobile phone while driving in Sydney on May 16, May 30 and June 2 last year.

At Sutherland Local Court on Thursday, Sarakula’s solicitor Jennifer Mouhaweg said Sarakula became addicted to his phone after starting a new job, breaking up with his MAFS bride Aleks Markovic and dealing with sudden media attention.

“He says he became an overnight celebrity,” Ms Mouhaweg said.

“There is no doubt that the media attention can be quite overwhelming and being in the public eye also proved to have taken a toll on his mental health.”

Sarakula caught on a mobile phone detection camera.

However, police prosecutor Sergeant McGee rubbished the suggestion Sarakula disliked the attention.

“The reason people participate in these reality TV shows is to bolster their social media following and to bolster their image,” Sgt McGee told the court.

“That, Your Honour, may give some explanation as to why he’s obsessed with his phone – the court should not be giving him any leniency whatsoever.”

Magistrate Joy Boulos gave Sarakula a non-conviction on the first offence for May 16, but convicted him for the two subsequent offences and fined him $200.

Sarakula will now incur 10 demerit points instead of 15.

Sarakula, on his phone again. Picture: Liam Mendes

Sarakula and lawyer Jennifer Mouhaweg.

“Anyone who makes a decision to participate in a reality TV show and seek sympathy because you have become an overnight celebrity and says he found all the media attention overwhelming – that gets no sympathy from the court whatsoever,” Ms Boulos said.

“You are holding the mobile phone while you’re driving and it’s clear from the outset you are obsessed and now you wonder why.”

Sarakula depicted on MAFS.

The court heard that while Sarakula has never received an infringement notice for using a mobile phone before, he has racked up thousands in fines for other driving offences.

In October 2015 Sarakula lost three demerits and $425 for negligent driving, and four demerits and $436 in December 2014 for speeding more than 20km/h over the limit.

In March 2012 Sarakula lost six points and was fined a whopping $1915 for speeding at more than 45km/h above the limit.

More recently, in March 2020 Sarakula lost one demerit point and $121 for speeding at less than 10km/h.

Sarakula, doing this, for some reason.

“People who are obsessed with their mobile phones while driving are taking their eyes off the road – any momentary inattention can cause tragedy on our roads,” Ms Boulos said.

“You don’t get much sympathy for being a celebrity – that’s the name of the game.”

Sarakula now spends much of his time on the Gold Coast, which he documents thoroughly on his Instagram page.

Better get this for Instagram. Picture: Liam Mendes