Salim Mehajer jailed for brutal assault on woman

In Australia, former deputy mayor Salim Mehajer, 38, is currently incarcerated at John Morony prison in Sydney. He is serving a lengthy sentence of seven years and nine months due to multiple convictions, which include domestic violence and fraud. The serious allegations stem from incidents in which he repeatedly assaulted a woman, including punching her and restricting her airways, leading to her passing out. Additionally, he attempted to commit fraud by using False documents to reclaim money that had been seized by authorities during a police investigation. Mehajer's criminal activities have raised significant public concern, especially given his position as a former elected official. Recently, Mehajer appealed his convictions, seeking bail in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal. However, three judges unanimously rejected his appeal, deeming the claims he made regarding his innocence to be speculative and lacking concrete evidence. Justice Dina Yehia pointed out that while Mehajer suggested he possessed an alibi that could exonerate him from some charges, he failed to provide specific details about this alleged evidence. This lack of clarity contributed to the judges’ firm decision to deny his request for bail, emphasizing that mere assertions are not sufficient grounds for release. Despite Mehajer’s claims that his prison conditions hindered his ability to prepare for the appeal, the court ruled that he had adequate facilities at his disposal, including access to a private computer room. Furthermore, the judges pointed out that he had already demonstrated an ability to effectively prepare legal documents, as seen in his bail application submissions. The appeal court noted that simply having served part of his sentence does not entitle him to bail, particularly given the grave nature of his convictions. Upon considering Mehajer's situation, the judges also addressed his concerns about the potential sale of his family home due to mortgage issues but found no substantial evidence to support this claim. In addition to his domestic violence and fraud convictions, Mehajer is also serving a 24-month sentence for staging a car crash and falsifying details to manipulate traffic fines. His non-parole period for these latter charges is set to expire on December 14, 2024; however, it is expected that he will remain behind bars as his appeal regarding the more serious offences is still pending review. Overall, the case has garnered attention not only because of the serious legal issues at hand but also due to Mehajer's former position in public office, which raises questions regarding the accountability of elected officials.