Disgraced deputy mayor Salim Mehajer convicted of electoral fraud

It looks like Sailm Megajer could be spending a long time behind bars, judging by the findings of a trail in Sydney on Wednesday.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports the former deputy mayor of the Sydney suburb of Auburn has been convicted of electoral fraud. Local Court magistrate Beverly Schurr has found Megajer guilty of rigging a 2012 election with his sister, Fatima.

This meant that he unlawfully earnt his way into public office, with Schurr finding a number of incriminating text messages between the siblings a short time before the polls closed. Their actions have been described as a “joint criminal enterprise” and the reason why he was able to influence the Auburn Council elections in the first place.

The texts messages allegedly show the siblings discussing the fraud, with Schurr still handing down her decision on the charges.

It’s not the first time Mehajer has been in trouble with the law. In fact, it is believed that he’s facing more than 100 different charges that relate to giving false information to the Australian Electoral Commission. It is believed he forged documents, as well as rigging applications that saw him elected.

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The court heard how an unusually large number of enrolment applications were submitted online moments before the electoral roll closed in 2012. An earlier investigation found an array of different images and receipts on Fatima’s personal computer, while other forms were submitted from an IP addressed used by the Mehajer family.

Fatima has already pleaded guilty to her involvement in the fraud, but her sentencing is expected to be delayed until her brother’s trail is completed.

In addition to his trouble with the law, Mehajer rose to fame in Australia for his over-the-top wedding in the Sydney suburb of Lidcombe in 2015. Along with his now ex-wife, Mehajer arrived at his ceremony in a helicopter and informed every single person on the bustling Frances Street to park their cars in garages so his fleet of Rolls Royces, Ferraris and Harley Davidsons could make their way to his lavish mansion.

Mehajer left notes in letter boxes explaining that cars would be towed at the cost of the owner if anyone failed to obliged. It was later found that the council didn’t have permission to shut the street down, with local residents becoming furious by the antics.

The former property developer has already spent time in jail and has been previously charged on drug and assault charges, as well as being disqualified from managing corporations. He was forced to suspended as deputy mayor in 2016 and was charged with fraud last year. 

What do you think? What should Salim Mehajer’s punishment be?