Controversial property developer denies he was behind the wheel of an unregistered Ferrari as two more civil cases against him come to court

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

The controversial Auburn deputy mayor, Salim Mehajer, has pleaded guilty to driving without a licence in Sydney but has denied driving an unregistered Ferrari, as two civil cases involving him have also come to court.

Mehajer was issued two traffic penalty notices last month after he allegedly drove an unregistered Ferrari without a licence in the Sydney suburb of Punchbowl.

The 29-year-old, who appeared in Bankstown local court on Wednesday with his new wife, Aysha, pleaded guilty to driving without a licence but not guilty to driving the unregistered luxury sports car.

Two more cases involving him were in court on Wednesday. The legal battle over his lavish staircase has been settled and a cleaner is suing over alleged debts.

Onyx staircase lands Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer in legal battle Read more

Yashar Shokrgozar, the director of marble supply company Marmonyx Stone, had accused Mehajer of failing to pay for the installation of the onyx staircase in his western Sydney home.

During a brief mention of the case on Wednesday, Mehajer’s lawyer told the court the matter had been settled.

Shokrgozar had filed a civil case against the property developer, claiming he had been hired to install the two-storey spiral staircase last year but had not been paid.



In another civil case, Anping Yan, a cleaner, is suing Mehajer. “You have done some cleaning work and you say you haven’t been paid ... and that is what you are suing for,” registrar Michael McTegg told Yan when he appeared in court.

“I have not got a fee more than 10 months so it is a bit hard for me to send lawyer,” Yan replied.

McTegg advised Yan to organise a translator when the matter returned next month. “You have no chance of winning unless you can explain to the magistrate what happened,” the registrar said.