Salim Mehajer calls sister after allegations of domestic violence

Disgraced ex-politician Salim Mehajer told his sister ‘whatever I did… I swear to God, I did it out of spite’ after being accused of strangling his ex-girlfriend, court finds documents.

Mehajer, 36, is currently in jail awaiting trial on a series of serious domestic violence charges against his ex-girlfriend Melissa Tysoe.

Last week he lost a desperate attempt to be released when the Court of Appeal took just minutes to reject his bail application.

The former deputy mayor of Auburn has pleaded not guilty to seven charges – consisting of four counts of common assault and one count each of assault with actual bodily harm, harassment and intentionally asphyxiating a victim with recklessness.

Mr. Mehajer was charged with domestic violence on December 23, 2020.

Four days later, the court heard on Friday, Mr Mehajer’s sister texted his ex-partner saying the ex-politician had said ‘he never did anything wrong’ and that he wanted her to withdraw the charges.

Justice Garling said Mr Mehajer told his sister during a telephone conversation on that same day, ‘But if I am on (sic) good terms with her. I never do anything wrong. Never. But whatever I did, whatever I did… I swear to God, I did it out of spite.”

Mr Mehajer has endured a rollercoaster of legal proceedings in recent months and last week pleaded that he should be released on bail so he can prepare for his trial, where he is expected to represent himself after legal aid is granted to him refused.

Mr Mehajer’s sister texted his ex-partner saying that the ex-politician had said ‘he never did anything wrong’ and that he wanted her to withdraw the charges. Disgraced ex-deputy mayor Salim Mehajer (left) is pictured with his ex-girlfriend Melissa Tysoe

Mehajer is pictured on Downing Center Court

He remains on remand at Mid North Coast Correctional Facility in Kempsey, New South Wales, while he was held in protective custody during the hearing.

The Court of Appeal on Friday announced the reasons for reversing Mr Mehajer’s bail offer, with Judge Peter Garling describing the crown case against him as: ‘a fairly strong case’.

Mr Mehajer is eligible for parole after being jailed in April 2021 on unrelated charges of perverting the course of justice and making a false statement under oath.

Judge Garling wrote in his verdict that Mr Mehajer was first eligible for release in January, but he remains in prison having been denied bail over allegations he committed domestic violence against his ex-partner Melissa Tysoe.

He was granted bail by the NSW District Court earlier this year, only for the Director of Public Prosecutions to make a successful application for detention to the NSW Supreme Court.

Melissa Tysoe (pictured left) dated Salim Mehajer (pictured right) for about three years.

The Court of Appeal on Friday announced its reasons for reversing Mr Mehajer’s bail offer, with Judge Peter Garling describing the crown case against him as: ‘a fairly strong case’.

He tried to overturn that decision in the Court of Appeals, but the panel of Justices Garling, Robert Beech-Jones and Dina Yehia took 16 minutes last week to reject his bid for liberty.

Justice Garling wrote in his verdict that Mr Mehajer pleaded for his freedom on the grounds that the case relied on electronic material, which he could not study from prison.

He also said he should be released to replace a SIM card he gave to his alleged victim when he was taken into custody in November 2020.

Mr Mehajer argued that he needed the SIM card to reach his friends and supporters so that he could raise money for his legal costs and save his house from repossession.

Justice Garling wrote in his verdict that Mr Mehajer pleaded for his freedom on the grounds that the case relied on electronic material, which he could not study from prison. Melissa Tysoe is pictured

But Judge Garling said he was skeptical of Mr Mehajer’s claims as his supporters knew him well and he was seeking legal aid.

“Without a doubt, he knows the people he wants to contact to seek financial help,” Judge Garling said.

He also said Mr Mehajer’s defense was that none of the alleged crimes had taken place and that he did not need access to extensive documents or electronic material.

“There is nothing about the applicant’s need for his mobile phone or SIM card that supports an award of bail,” Judge Garling said in his verdict.

Justice Garling added: “In my opinion, the applicant has not given any reason why his detention is not justified.

In short, the Crown case is quite strong and the period of his detention is very short and will be concurrent with serving an existing prison sentence.

“Furthermore, the applicant has not presented a satisfactory reason why he should be released from custody in order to adequately prepare his defense of the domestic violence allegations and the other charges he faces.”

Mr Mehajer will appear in court next week.