Salim's big phone claim after jail release
The former Auburn Mayor was found guilty for fraud and domestic violence matters after punching his ex-partner in the head during an argument and threatening to kill her mother.
Mehajer represented himself during the trial, and a jury found him guilty of six charges including multiple counts of assault and one each of intimidation and suffocating.
He had punched the woman in the head during an argument in his car, squeezed her hand and crushed her phone she was holding, suffocated her by putting his hand over her nose and mouth until she passed out, and threatened to kill her mother.
He was also found guilty of creating false documents by forging the signatures of his solicitor, Zali Burrows, and his sister, during a separate trial. Salim Mehajer visited Service NSW after his release from prison last week. 9 News. Credit: Supplied Mehajer was released after his non-parole period for domestic violence and fraud offences expired. NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi Credit: News Corp Australia
Mehajer was sentenced to a maximum of seven years and nine months in jail for the domestic violence and fraud offences.
He was released from prison last Friday upon the expiry of his non-parole period for the offences, although he'd been in prison for just short of five years as he'd also been serving back to back sentences for multiple offences.
He's since lodged an appeal to fight the domestic violence charges, despite being released from prison last week.
Mehajer did not attend the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal in person on Thursday morning, instead opting to beam in through an audiovisual link.
Sporting a navy blue suit, white shirt and slicked back hair, Mehajer asked for his hearing on August 4 to be pushed back amid 'issues' with his ID.
He claimed the complainant had his ID, so he'd need to get new identification to allow him to go to the Apple Store and obtain further material to support his affidavit.
Mehajer claimed his phone had been 'remotely deleted', and that he hoped he would be able to provide some supporting evidence — namely, photos from his iCloud server — after attending the Apple Store.
He sought a delay of up to three weeks, however the Crown opposed, arguing the hearing date had already been changed to accommodate Mehajer's release from custody and that the issue had already been raised at trial.
'It's not a fresh issue,' the Crown prosecutor told the court.
'The Crown's position is very firmly this: it is too late to be raising it at this stage, this is entirely speculative … the appeal can proceed.' Mehajer was in prison for just short of five years, serving back to back sentences for multiple offences. NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi Credit: News Corp Australia He was released from John Morony Correction Centre last Friday. 9News Credit: Channel 9
If a delay was granted, the hearing would likely need to be moved to November due to the availability of the crown, to which Mehajer told registrar Peter Clayton he wasn't seeking such a lengthy delay.
Mr Clayton said if Mehajer hadn't dropped his bid for a later hearing date he would have rejected it, noting three weeks to obtain new ID was 'optimistic, in any event'.
He confirmed the hearing will remain on August 4, with Mehajer telling the court he intends to appear in person.
Mehajer was last week spotted visiting Paramatta Westfield, Service NSW for a new drivers' license, and a cosmetic dentist in Hornsby following his release from John Morony Correction Centre at Berkshire Park last week, according to the Daily Mail. Mehajer will need to abide by a long list of parole conditions following his release, including participating in any domestic violence programs where directed, ongoing treatment from a private psychologist, and drug and alcohol testing.
Mehajer's lawyer Zawat Zreika last week said the former Auburn Mayor's focus is on his family.
'Mr Mehajer has now been released from custody,' she said.
'This is a long awaited and deeply personal moment for him and his family.
'He asks that their privacy be respected during this time.'
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