Salim Mehajer found guilty of Auburn Council electoral fraud

SALIM Mehajer will remain on bail despite being found guilty of electoral fraud. After the decision he shared his one regret from the trial with followers.

AS he stares down the prospect of heading back to jail after being convicted of electoral fraud, Salim Mehajer has used social media — while still in court — to outline his plan to appeal, and express regret over not testifying.

Mehajer, 31, was this morning found guilty of several counts of electoral fraud relating to the 2012 Auburn Council election.

Magistrate Beverley Schurr said she was satisfied “beyond reasonable doubt” Mehajer acted in “a joint criminal enterprise” with his sister Fatima Mehajer to influence the outcome of the election, which put him in council as deputy mayor.

Central Local Court heard the pair sent a number of suspicious texts to each other before the electoral roll closed in July 2012.

Fatima Mehajer, 28, has previously pleaded guilty to 77 charges.

Salim’s Instagram post this afternoon. Source: Instagram/Salim Mehajer

“Even though text messages presented by the prosecution do not specify an act I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt by the circumstantial evidence,” Magistrate Schurr said.

This afternoon as Magistrate Schurr continued to deliver her decision on more than 100 counts of electoral fraud against him, Mehajer posted a “press release” to his Instagram account as story, saying “I am sure everything will be OK”.

“I have HUGE confidence in the Justice System [sic] ... I did not give evidence during trial, though I wish I did to answer “the Gaps” [sic]. My new legal team will respectfully be appealing the decision.”

Magistrate Schurr decided this afternoon Mehajer would remain on bail and would be sentenced in June.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years jail.

Salim Mehajer has been found guilty of electoral fraud. Picture: David Moir

Salim Mehajer’s sister Fatima. Picture: John Grainger

He had denied the charges, which included forging AEC enrolments and fabricating a number of addresses­ for friends and family, claiming they resided in Auburn making them eligible to vote.

He arrived in court alone and wearing a blue suit but just smiled when questioned by media about the case.

The guilty verdict means Mehajer — who was released last week on bail after two months behind bars — may be forced back into custody. He was in jail on charges of perverting the course of justice for the alleged staging of a car accident on his way to face court last year.

Mehajer, who was recently declared bankrupt, is on a good behaviour bond in relation to assault charges.

His bail conditions for the pervert the course of justice charge include reporting to police twice daily and a $200,000 surety.