Court orders state to pay Salim Mehajer legal costs

Salim Mehajer has scratched up another legal win, this time forcing the NSW government to pick up his legal costs.

Salim Mehajer arrives at Burwood Local Court in Sydney.

Sydney’s most colourful suspended councillor has scratched up another legal win, this time forcing the NSW government to pick up his legal costs.

NSW Supreme Court judge Peter Garling yesterday ruled that the Office of Local Government must cover the fees incurred by Salim Mehajer in the property developer’s stoush with the state over his four-month suspension from Auburn City Council.

Mr Mehajer, 29, won the technical victory when a court found that he was not required to ­disclose financial interest in a commercial property when ­voting on council rezoning changes that would add an estimated $1 million to its value.

The former Auburn deputy mayor, who stands to make millions from selling the commercial building at the centre of the controversy, has enjoyed a handful of wins in the courtroom this year as he faces legal action on a number of fronts.

Last week, he was cleared of stalking and intimidation charges made by Bruce Herat, father of Sydney Lindt cafe siege survivor Joel.

Last month, NSW Police dropped a defect notice issued for a $250,000 Mercedes G63 owned by his wife, Aysha, with whom he drew national attention in August with an opulent wedding ­ceremony that included a jet flyover and caused the unapproved closure of a suburban street.

Local Government Minister Paul Toole suspended Mr Mehajer and all nine other Auburn ­councillors indefinitely on February 10 ahead of a public inquiry into ­alleged corruption at the council.

Michael Finnane QC, Mr ­Mehajer’s barrister, who represented him in challenging the ­original suspension, said it was the usual rule that the losing party paid the other side’s legal bills.

“It is not an opinion by the ­judges on whether someone has been good or bad or if they are worthwhile people or anything else — it is just who has lost,” Mr Finnane said. ​