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News.com.au
5 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Inside the rise and fall of notorious ex-politician Salim Mehajer
In October 2024, Salim Mehajer stood in the dock of a Sydney court and was told by a judge that if could 'return to using his abilities for good rather than ill, he will have a successful life.' That's about to be tested after the notorious former developer and politician on Friday walked out of a Sydney jail on parole after nearly five years behind bars. Mehajer shot to prominence in 2015 when his showy wedding - which reportedly cost $1.4m and featured a fleet of luxury cars, helicopters and a fighter jet - blocked off a Lidcombe street. Since then he's been plagued by a seemingly never-ending series of legal battles and court appearances. But after serving back-to-back jail sentences for multiple criminal offences, Mehajer has been released on parole. He walked out of the John Morony Correctional Centre on Friday, into a waiting hire car, which whisked him off to continue his new life. THE WEDDING It was described as Australia's 'best' and 'most expensive' wedding and made Mehajer a minor celebrity. Mehajer's lavish wedding to his then wife Aysha made headlines across the country. He arrived in one of four helicopters, drummers lined the streets, flanked by dozens of luxury sports cars and a procession of motorbikes. Mehajer also hired a seaplane, a jet and a small film crew to capture the whole affair. But it angered locals by shutting down a Lidcombe street and posting flyers to residents falsely claiming that their car would be towed. It also brought him into conflict with the Auburn council, where he was deputy mayor, and he was fined $220 for shutting down the street down without council permission. THE FIRST JAILING In June 2018, Mehajer was jailed after he was convicted of electoral fraud relating to his 2012 run for the Auburn council. Mehajer and his sister attempted to register voters in his ward despite the people living outside the electorate boundaries. Magistrate Beverley Schurr at the time described his offences as striking 'at the heart of the democratic electoral system.' His sister, Fatima Mehajer, pleaded guilty to 77 counts of giving false or misleading information to a Commonwealth entity. She was given a two-month suspended jail sentence. Mehajer was convicted of 51 counts of using a forged document to dishonestly influence and 26 counts of giving false or misleading information to a Commonwealth entity, and sentenced to a maximum of 21 months in prison. He was released after serving 11 months. But it would not be the last time he was in jail. 'ONLY GOD CAN BANKRUPT ME' In 2018, Mehajer posted a Snapchat from prison: 'Only God can bankrupt me!'. But in March that year a Federal Court judge declared him bankrupt and he was found to have owed creditors about $25m, including $8.6 million to the Australian Taxation Office. In October 2017, a District Court judge found Mehajer had failed to pay nearly $600,000 to Prime Marble & Granite for the construction of a marble staircase and other stonework inside his Lidcombe mansion. 'The plaintiff constructed a marble palace in accordance with the defendant's instructions, the exquisiteness of which is not in dispute,' District Court judge Judith Gibson said at the time. The opulent stonework famously once featured in a video by rapper Bow Wow. Mehajer was ordered by Judge Gibson to pay the company $668,276, as well as the construction company's legal costs. The petition to bankrupt Mehajer was supported by Prime Marble & Granite. Last year, Mehajer's Lidcombe mansion was sold off for $3.85m at auction after it was repossessed by the National Australia Bank. The Federal Court had earlier rejected Mehajer's application for an injunction to block the NAB from selling two of his properties. THE RETURN TO JAIL In November 2020, Mehajer was back behind bars after being found guilty for lying to a court. He was convicted of two counts of perverting the course of justice and one count of making a false statement under oath following a judge-alone trial in the District Court. The case centred on his lies in affidavits and under cross-examination which he used to secure relaxed bail conditions. He had claimed he needed a curfew lifted to fulfil his job as a building manager at a development site. But, the court heard, he never held the position. He was found guilty by Judge Peter Zahra and jailed for a maximum of three-and-a-half-years. VEXATIOUS LITIGANT From a prison cell, Mehajer suffered a massive blow in 2022 when he was effectively blocked from launching legal action in NSW when he was declared a 'vexatious litigant' by the NSW Supreme Court. It means that Mehajer is prohibited from bringing any new proceedings in NSW unless granted prior leave by the court. It came about after his attempt to sue former business partners for an eye-watering $52m backfired. He attempted to sue 17 former business partners relating to a failed development project at Lidcombe. He sought damages of $52m however he later accepted that the statement of claim could not be maintained. The court found that Mehajer had launched over 10 lawsuits in the preceding years which were 'initiated without reasonable grounds' or meant to 'harass' or 'annoy' the defendants. THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENCES Mid last year, Mehajer was found guilty in separate trials for unrelated fraud and domestic violence matters. In a decision handed down earlier this year by District Court Judge James Bennett, Mehajer was sentenced to a maximum of seven years and nine months in jail. He was found guilty by a jury in May last year - following a trial in which he represented himself - of six charges comprising multiple counts of assault, one count of intimidation and one count of suffocating. He was found guilty of assaulting the woman by punching her in the head during an argument in his car, squeezing her hand and crushing her phone that she was holding, suffocating her by putting his hand over her nose and mouth until she passed out. 'He just kept pressing his hand over my nose and mouth so that I couldn't scream and I couldn't breathe, and he was telling me that he could easily kill me, he could keep beating me until I wouldn't wake up,' the woman said during her evidence. He was also found guilty of threatening to kill the woman's mother. 'He began telling me in detail that if I ever went to the police he would come for me and then he said, 'no, no, I'll come for your mother first',' the woman said during the trial. 'He told me that's what gangsters do. They don't kill the person they want first, they kill their family and make them watch.' The court was told that he threatened to 'put a bullet through her mother's head'. The following month, he was found guilty by a jury of two counts each of making a false document and using a false document. He was found to have created false documents by forging the signatures of his solicitor, Zali Burrows, and his sister. He was sentenced concurrently for both the fraud and domestic violence offences. He is due to appear in the Court of Criminal Appeal next week to appeal against his domestic violence offences. A CAR CRASH Last year, Mehajer once again appeared in court to be sentenced after pleading guilty to his role in a bizarre staged car crash in an attempt to duck a court appearance. Mehajer entered guilty pleas to 22 charges including perverting the course of justice, making a false representation resulting in a police investigation, making a false call for an ambulance and negligent driving. He admitted to staging the car accident in Sydney's west in October 2017, with the court hearing that Mehajer orchestrated the incident in a bid to delay his court appearance for an unrelated criminal matter. Television crews at the scene of the crash at a Lidcombe intersection captured Mehajer being stretchered into an ambulance with his neck in a brace. Mehajer also pleaded guilty to dealing with identity information to commit an indictable offence relating to him falsely nominating other people as the drivers involved in traffic infringements. He was sentenced by Judge Warwick Hunt to a maximum of two years for the offences, with a non-parole period of 16 months. However his non-parole period for the fraud and domestic violence matters did not expire until Friday, when he was released. Judge Hunt told him at the time: 'If he can return to using his abilities for good rather than ill, he will have a successful life.' Mehajer was last month granted parole by the State Parole Authority. In an SPA hearing earlier this year, the Commissioner of Corrective Services opposed his release, citing a risk of reoffending, his lack of attitudinal change and Mehajer's continued denial of some of his crimes. This is despite a Community Corrections pre-release report recommending that Mehajer be released on conditional parole. The State Parole Authority board determined his rehabilitation was best served in the community where he will be under the watch of a psychologist and community corrections officers. He will have to abide by a stringent list of conditions including not contacting Outlaw Motorcycle Gang members or associates, as well as having to undergo drug and alcohol testing.
New York Times
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘Unicorns' Review: Where Glitter Meets Grit
When Luke (Ben Hardy), a single dad in 'Unicorns,' meets Aysha (Jason Patel), a drag queen, Luke thinks Aysha is a cisgender woman. After they kiss, there's a palpable fear for Aysha's safety when Luke recoils at the sight of her Adam's apple. 'Unicorns,' directed by Sally El Hosaini and James Krishna Floyd, follows in the cinematic tradition of straight men bonding with L.G.B.T.Q. characters — this time arriving at a moment when drag performers face renewed attacks. Their unlikely encounter begins at a nightclub in East London, when Luke, a white working-class guy, accidentally stumbles into the underground 'gaysian' scene on his way to the bathroom. His eyes are fixed on Aysha, the night's star performer. But why would Aysha — who later says that she receives death threats for doing drag — seek him out not once, but twice? First, by running in front of his car after his agitated reaction to their kiss, and then by showing up at his car repair shop in Essex. None of this clicks with who we discover Aysha to be: guarded by necessity. Whether the later conflict involving queer infighting comes off as a thoughtless subversion of expectations depends on if you identify more with Luke or Aysha. More effective are the subtleties within their blossoming romance, like during a karaoke duet sequence that shows Luke softening to Aysha's charms. Hardy peels back the layers to reveal Luke's sexual awakening so viscerally that it's easier to overlook the film's narrative shortcuts. UnicornsNot rated. Running time: 1 hour 59 minutes. In theaters.
Daily Mirror
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Major hot car warning issued as dog dies trapped in traffic during heatwave
As tempeartures soar outside in the UK this week, the mercury inside a vehicle can rocket up quickly, putting dogs at heightened risk of heatstroke - especially flat-faced breeds like French bulldogs and pugs Pet owners are being urged to remain vigilant during the heatwave after a French Bulldog died while trapped in traffic in a hot car. The Frenchie - a breed which is at particular risk in hot temperatures - had to be rushed to Blue Cross animal hospital in Victoria, London after the owner got stuck in traffic and the poor pooch collapsed in the car as temperatures roared over 30C last weekend. Despite the best efforts of the vets, the beloved pet couldn't be saved. Vets at Blue Cross are now warning pet owners of the dangers of travelling with their pet in the car during extremely hot weather. Temperatures are expected to surpass 30 degrees several days this week and as the mercury rises outside, inside car temperatures can rocket up in a matter of minutes - meaning pets can succumb quickly to heatstroke. Aysha Kent, vet at Blue Cross, said: 'With temperatures set to soar in the coming days we'd really urge anyone to reconsider travelling with their pets during the hot weather – especially long distances. 'This is such a terribly distressing and sad case, and our thoughts are with the owner who did what they could to save the pet by rushing them into our care but sadly it was too late. 'While we often think our cars are cool when we're driving, this is often due to the active cooling of fans, and the actual vehicle temperature is much higher than we know. Putting the windows down isn't enough to stop the heat rising. 'Many pet owners will be aware of the risk of leaving dogs in parked cars but we're sharing this incredibly sad story to make people aware of the dangers of travelling with your pet during the hot weather.' Flat-faced breeds such as French Bulldogs and pugs are at higher risk in hot temperatures, along with overweight pets, very young or elderly pets, and pets with thick coats. The charity - which has been helping sick, injured and homeless pets for more than 100 years - is also urging owners to consider keeping their pets inside, rather than walking them outside if the temperatures remain too high. Aysha added: 'Avoid the usual walks and just take dogs for brief toilet breaks in the garden or outside nearby. Give pets frozen or cooled treats to stay cool and, if possible, provide dogs with a paddling pool to cool them down. 'We'd recommend trying to leave your pet in a room with shade (for example with the curtains closed) and opening windows (where this is safe) if the air is cooler outside or there is a breeze." Early signs that your dog might be struggling with the heat include panting (especially if they have a curled tongue), slowing down or stopping on walks, and fast or heavy breathing. After this, you might see them drooling or lying down, followed by more serious symptoms such as vomiting, collapse or fits. Aysha added: 'If your dog shows any signs of heatstroke, start cooling them by moving them out of the heat and pouring cold water over them (not using wet towels as these warm up the skin too quickly) and take them to the nearest vet. This may not be your usual vet but will be quicker in getting your pet treated.'
Scottish Sun
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I made £5 supermarket cakes look Pinterest-worthy – I swear by a simple hack for a DIY drip & people say it looks ‘epic'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MOTHER has shared how she made £5 supermarket cakes look Pinterest-worthy. So if you can't afford to splash the cash on a posh birthday cake from a bakery, then you've come to the right place and will need to take notes. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 A savvy mum has revealed how she made two £5 cakes look Pinterest-worthy Credit: TikTok / @ 4 Aysha Ijaz spent just £21.50 in total on her DIY cake Credit: TikTok / @ 4 She shared her DIY hack for a super neat chocolate drip Credit: TikTok / @ 4 Social media users think the cake looks "amazing" and "delicious" Credit: TikTok / @ Aysha Ijaz, a savvy mum who regularly shares cooking clips on social media, recently demonstrated how she turned two Ms Molly's Chocolate Cakes, which you can buy from Tesco for just £5.25 each, into a stunning drip cake. Posting online, Aysha wrote: 'Make £10 grocery store cake Pinterest-worthy.' To kick off the process, Aysha started by scraping the icing off of the two cakes. She then cut the cakes into smaller circles and used chocolate buttercream to stack them on top of each other. Once this was done, Aysha coated the outside and top of the cake with more of the chocolate buttercream. She then shared her simple hack for the perfect DIY drip and it couldn't be easier. Aysha confirmed that she used melted chocolate, which she applied to the cake using a piping bag, enabling her to get incredibly neat-looking drips. Following this, the foodie used American buttercream to decorate the cake and finished it off with Ferrero Rocher and some gold spray. Aysha confirmed that while she paid £10.50 for both cakes, she spent less than £5 on buttercream and £6 on Ferrero Rocher. As a result, it cost her just £21.50 in total for the jaw-dropping birthday cake. I DIY-ed a 'professional' level kids' birthday cake for less than £25 using Amazon & eBay buys - I didn't bake a thing Not only was the total cost much cheaper than buying a personalised cake from a professional, but we think it looks incredible too. The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly amassed 753,300 views. 19,100 likes and 107 comments. That looks amazing! TikTok user Social media users were impressed with Aysha's DIY birthday cake and many eagerly raced to the comments to express this. One person said: 'Excellent job.' Another added: 'That looks amazing!' A third commented: 'It looks delicious.' Meanwhile, someone else gushed: 'I'm 100% doing this for my husband's birthday in November. I've saved the video.' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club
The Irish Sun
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I made £5 supermarket cakes look Pinterest-worthy – I swear by a simple hack for a DIY drip & people say it looks ‘epic'
A MOTHER has shared how she made £5 supermarket cakes look Pinterest-worthy. So if you can't afford to splash the cash on a Advertisement 4 A savvy mum has revealed how she made two £5 cakes look Pinterest-worthy Credit: TikTok / @ 4 Aysha Ijaz spent just £21.50 in total on her DIY cake Credit: TikTok / @ 4 She shared her DIY hack for a super neat chocolate drip Credit: TikTok / @ 4 Social media users think the cake looks "amazing" and "delicious" Credit: TikTok / @ Aysha Ijaz, a savvy mum who regularly shares cooking clips on social media, recently demonstrated how she turned two Posting online, Aysha wrote: 'Make £10 grocery store cake Pinterest-worthy.' To kick off the process, Aysha started by scraping the icing off of the two cakes. She then cut the cakes into smaller circles and used chocolate buttercream to stack them on top of each other. Advertisement Read more on birthday cakes Once this was done, Aysha coated the outside and top of the cake with more of the chocolate buttercream. She then shared her simple hack for the perfect DIY drip and it couldn't be easier. Aysha confirmed that she used melted chocolate, which she applied to the cake using a piping bag, enabling her to get incredibly neat-looking drips. Following this, the Advertisement Most read in Fabulous Aysha confirmed that while she paid £10.50 for both cakes, she spent less than £5 on buttercream and £6 on Ferrero Rocher. As a result, it cost her just £21.50 in total for the jaw-dropping birthday cake. I DIY-ed a 'professional' level kids' birthday cake for less than £25 using Amazon & eBay buys - I didn't bake a thing Not only was the total cost much cheaper than buying a personalised cake from a professional, but we think it looks incredible too. The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ Advertisement That looks amazing! TikTok user Social media users were impressed with Aysha's One person said: 'Excellent job.' Another added: 'That looks amazing!' Advertisement A third commented: 'It looks delicious.' Meanwhile, someone else gushed: 'I'm 100% doing this for my husband's birthday in November. I've saved the video.' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club How much does a birthday cake cost? The cost of a birthday cake can vary massively depending on where you get it from and how elaborate it is. Basic sponge or character birthday cakes from supermarkets tend to cost between £10 and £20, while large or themed supermarket cakes often vary between £20 and £35. Meanwhile, a small, personalised custom cake from a bakery and/or professional cake decorator can set people back £40 to £60. Medium personalised cakes are often £70 to £100, while large, tiered cakes, can be anywhere from £100 to £300, depending on detail, flavours and toppers.
