- Salim Mehajer appealed the verdict
- He was convicted of domestic violence and fraud
Claims by a former deputy mayor, convicted of domestic abuse and fraud, that new evidence could prove his innocence have been dismissed as ‘speculative’ ahead of an appeal.
On several occasions, Salim Mehajer repeatedly punched a woman, shattered her phone by grabbing her hand and put his hand over her mouth, causing her to faint.
He also committed fraud by attempting to use false documents to recover $6,530 seized by police from his home.
The 38-year-old is serving a sentence of seven years and nine months for both offenses and is being held at John Morony Prison in Sydney’s west.
The former property developer and deputy mayor of Sydney’s Auburn council has appealed his convictions for both offenses and applied for bail in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal in October.
Three judges of this court unanimously rejected Mehajer’s bid on Friday, saying that while the former deputy mayor claimed his innocence, these claims were not detailed.
Judge Dina Yehia wrote that the 38-year-old appeared to say he had evidence that could “almost certainly establish” that he had an alibi showing that at least some of the domestic violence crimes had not occurred.
“However, a mere assertion to that effect, without specifying the nature of the evidence, is highly speculative,” she wrote, supported by the other two judges on the panel.
Salim Mehajer repeatedly punched a woman on several occasions, shattered her phone by grabbing her hand and put his hand over her mouth, causing her to faint
Mehajer claimed he had to be released on bail because he was kept in ‘segregation’ during his captivity and could not adequately prepare for the appeal.
However, the court ruled that he had sufficient resources and facilities in prison, including access to a private computer room.
“A striking indication of (Mehajer’s) ability to prepare his legal proceedings is evident from the current (bail) application,” Judge Yehia wrote.
“(He) submitted extensive written submissions, which were supplemented by oral submissions during the hearing.”
The project developer further argued that at the time his appeal was heard, he would have already served a significant part of his sentence behind bars.
Although his period of non-parole expired on July 18, 2025, this did not in itself mean that the former deputy mayor should be granted bail, the appeal court said.
There was also a “flanking absence of evidence” over Mehajer’s claims that he should be released to prevent his family home from being sold by a mortgage holder in possession of it, the judges ruled.
In addition to domestic violence and fraud, Mehajer must also serve 24 months for faking a car accident and providing false data to manipulate traffic fines.
His 18-month non-parole period on these charges expires on December 14.
However, he will not be released as the appeal of his other, more serious convictions has not been heard.