A controversial former politician who had hundreds of {dollars} value of money hidden in a cabinet after he was declared bankrupt has denied forging paperwork in court docket.
Former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer wore a navy go well with and patterned blue tie as he appeared within the NSW District Court docket on Tuesday going through a fraud trial.
He’s accused of constructing a false doc and utilizing three false paperwork to acquire a monetary benefit.
Police allege the 37-year-old falsely signed the identify of his former high-profile solicitor Zali Burrows with a view to witness his personal signature in a doc submitted to the Federal Court docket.
Ms Burrows gave proof on Tuesday morning, telling the court docket she stopped appearing for Mehajer in March 2020, when the affidavit was filed with the court docket asking to vary the trustee of his chapter.
The doc was purportedly witnessed by Ms Burrows within the Sydney CBD, however she informed the court docket it wasn’t her signature on the doc.
“My regular observe is I might ask them to declare or affirm whether or not the contents of the affidavit are true or appropriate, I might ask them to preliminary every web page and I might signal subsequent to their signature on every web page,” Ms Burrows informed the court docket.
“On the final web page I might signal my identify.”
When requested by Crown prosecutor Daniel Boyle whether or not or not it was her signature on the paperwork, Ms Burrows repeatedly mentioned “no”.
Ms Burrows informed the court docket she was in a trial in Parramatta on the day the affidavit says it was witnessed by her on Elizabeth Road in Sydney’s CBD.
Defence barrister Ben Hart requested if court docket adjourned early that day and if the lawyer had forgotten she signed the doc resulting from a heavy workload.
Ms Burrows mentioned the matter was raised together with her “fairly early”, telling the court docket she acquired a telephone name from Ragu Nith, who acted on behalf of Mehajer’s chapter trustee.
She instantly denied signing the doc.
Mehajer’s sister, Zenah Osman additionally took to the witness stand the place she was questioned a couple of statutory declaration Mehajer claimed was written and signed by her and witnessed by Ms Burrows.
The doc sought to have the $6530 in money which was seized throughout raids at Mehajer’s Kirribilli residence returned.
When Ms Osman was requested whether or not she knew in regards to the paperwork, she informed the court docket she had solely been made conscious by the Detective “two weeks in the past”.
She additionally repeatedly declined having signed the doc.
Mehajer was referred to as to present proof on Tuesday afternoon, regularly denying he cast Ms Burrows or Ms Osman’s signatures.
Mr Boyle mentioned: “I’m going to counsel Zali Burrows didn’t signal it as a witness”.
“I strongly reject that,” Mehajer replied.
He informed the jury an worker of his was requested to help in getting ready the doc and didn’t grow to be conscious till later that his sister had not signed it.
Earlier within the trial, the jury was informed that individuals who have been declared bankrupt should declare their property and property to a trustee appointed to handle their insolvency.
Nevertheless, a police raid on Mehajer’s residence in Kirribilli – which boasts views of the harbour and metropolis skyline – revealed he had allegedly not adopted the directions with stacks of $50 notes discovered hidden in a cabinet coming to a complete of $6350.
Within the witness field, Mehajer mentioned he was “entitled to money”.
“I’m entitled to take out loans, I may have mentioned it was mine and the trustee would have walked away … I mentioned the outright fact that it was not my cash,” he mentioned.
The trial continues earlier than a jury of seven males and 5 girls, presided over by Choose James Bennett.
