Mehajer and wife to avoid airing dirty laundry in public

The wife of former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer may soon draw the curtains on an apprehended ­violence order.

Almost a year to the day after their lavish wedding attracted ­national attention, a court has heard that the wife of former ­Auburn deputy mayor Salim ­Mehajer is preparing to draw the curtains on a five-week long appre­hended ­violence order.

Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court heard yesterday that Mr Mehajer and his wife, Aysha — who has reverted to her maiden name, Learmonth — would likely avoid having the gritty ­details of the case made public, with the pair close to a resolution.

Mr Mehajer’s lawyer Matt Ward told the court 50-odd pages of evidence had been filed but the matter was “likely to be resolved without further evidence”, ­indicating Ms Learmonth was preparing to drop the action.

Police filed an AVO on behalf of Ms Learmonth last month after she moved out of the mansion the couple shared in Lidcombe, in Sydney’s west, to live with her ­sister and brother-in-law in ­Wollongong.

Mr Mehajer allegedly went to that home soon after, “screaming and banging” on the door and asking for the keys to a luxury car Ms Learmonth had driven there.

A second AVO against Mr ­Mehajer, filed on behalf of Ben Miller, who is understood to be Ms Learmonth’s brother-in-law, was taken out after the incident.

Mr Ward applied to the court yesterday to have both AVO cases wound together, which was not opposed. The matters will now be heard in Wollongong on ­September 5.

Mr Mehajer is also subject to an AVO brought by Bruce Herat, a personal trainer at his former gym who is also the father of Lindt cafe siege survivor Joel Herat.

Mr Mehajer and Ms Learmonth’s opulent wedding on ­August 15 last year drew the spotlight on Auburn council and the links between councillors and property development.

The entire council, including Mr Mehajer — a property developer — was sacked by the NSW government in February and is the subject of a public inquiry.

Mr Mehajer faces a string of legal battles with creditors chasing him for millions of dollars, ­including the Australian Taxation Office, which one of his ­failed companies owes well over $1 million.

Mr Mehajer allegedly recently moved more than $20m to one or more accounts in Lebanon. It is not illegal to move money overseas, but the transfer raised eyebrows with authorities, given the legal action he is facing.

Company searches show Ms Learmonth remains a director of four companies owned by Mr ­Mehajer, including Mehajer Consolidated and SM Engineering & Construction Services.