Salim Mehajer: Auburn deputy mayor pleads guilty to driving without a licence, settles suit

HE’S pleaded guilty to a charge, settled a lawsuit, been slapped with another and got into a spat with a journo, all in one morning.

CONTROVERSIAL Auburn Deputy Mayor Salim Mehajer has pleaded guilty to a driving offence but is fighting a second charge at a southwest Sydney court.

The 29-year-old, who gained notoriety for stopping a Lidcombe street for his lavish wedding, also criticised the attire of a female Fairfax reporter after the hearing outside of court.

But that was just one half of a legal double header for Mehajer.

His lawyer was across town at Sydney Civil Local Court in the city announcing that the long-running staircase lawsuit he was fighting had been settled while another, on the same day and in the same court, was brought by his cleaner.

Salim Mehajer and wife Aysha arrive at Bankstown Court. Picture: Cameron Richardson

Mehajer, who was not in court for the civil matters so he could represent himself in the criminal case, pleaded guilty to not carrying a licence but is fighting a second charge of driving an unregistered vehicle at Bankstown Local Court.

He was pulled over by police while allegedly driving erratically inside a white Ferrari on Canterbury Rd, Punchbowl, at 11.15pm on October 24.

Police charged him with not carrying a driver’s license and driving an unregistered car. They issued him with two traffic penalty notices.

A short time later he was stopped again by different officers on the same road after doing a U-turn and issued a field court attendance notice for driving an unregistered vehicle and driving a car without carrying a license.

Mehajer appeared in court with his wife Aysha for the initial driving offences and originally pleaded not guilty to both. However he changed his mind inside court and pleaded guilty to not carrying a license after being quizzed by Registrar David Trotter.

Registrar Trotter asked: “Not carry license is now guilty?”

To which Mehajer replied: “Yes”.

Salim Mehajer arrives for an Auburn Council meeting in his Ferrari. Picture: Andrew Murray

Registrar Trotter then queried him about the second set of driving offences when he asked: “So you were told it was unregistered and you drove it anyway?”

And Mehajer responded, “Yes”. He also asked to see the CCTV footage but police had not submitted a brief of evidence at this stage.

Meanwhile, Sydney Civil Local Court heard the legal battle over the controversial Auburn deputy mayor’s lavish staircase has been settled.

Salim Mehajer’s onyx staircase.

The director of marble supply company Marmonyx Stone, Yashar Shokrgozar, accused Mehajer of failing to pay for the installation of the onyx staircase in the 29-year-old’s western Sydney home. During a brief mention of the matter this morning, Mehajer’s lawyer said he was “pleased to advise the court that the matter has settled”.

Mr Shokrgozar, who filed a civil case against the property developer, claimed he was hired to install the two-storey spiral staircase last year and the outstanding debt had yet to be paid.

The news that the case had been settled came as another matter was mentioned in the same court, revealing that a cleaner — Anping Yan — is also suing over alleged outstanding debts by Mehajer.

Yashar Shokrgozar has settled his lawsuit over the lavish staircase built in Mehajer’s Auburn home.

“You have done some cleaning work and you say you haven’t been paid for the clean work and that is what you are suing for,” Registrar Michael McTegg said to Mr Yan when he appeared in court. “I have not got a fee more than 10 months so it is a bit hard for me to send lawyer,” Mr Yan replied.

Mr McTegg advised Mr Yan, who was self-represented, to organise a translator when the matter returns next month

“You have no chance of winning unless you can explain to the magistrate what happened,” the registrar said.

Salim Mehajer and Aysha leave court after he offered a bit of unsolicited fashion advice. Picture Cameron Richardson

Outside of Bankstown Local Court, Mehajer got into an exchange with a female Fairfax reporter who was covering the court appearance.

He said: “Looks like you need a new outfit, you’ve worn that twice already.”

The Fairfax reporter replied; “Is that the best you’ve got for me, Salim?”

Mehajer also explained why he had chosen to represent himself instead of hiring a lawyer.

“The police are trying to waste my time,” he said.

He will return to Bankstown Local Court on February 15.

Originally published as Salim Mehajer: Auburn deputy mayor pleads guilty to driving without a licence, settles suit