Karl Stefanovic couldn't contain his laughter after hearing Auburn Deputy Mayor Salim Mehajer announced he wants to run for PM. Courtesy: The Today Show/Channel Nine

Karl left in stitches after Salim Mehajer announces he wants to become PM

IF EVER Lonely Planet was looking for a new twist on the travel book, it could do worse than to ask Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer to pen a guide to Sydney’s local courts.

Since 2008, the controversial councillor, whose no expense spared wedding enthralled a nation, has journeyed to courthouses across the conurbation, from bustling Burwood to multicultural Bankstown, historic Parramatta to sunny Sutherland. But despite his travels, few charges have stuck.

The last week has been the most intense with Mr Mehajer jetting around Sydney involved in cases in both Newtown local court and the NSW Supreme Court. And, like a backpacker on a Contiki tour, it’s not going to slow down anytime soon with the property developer due in court on separate issues on consecutive days next month.

TAX OFFICE OWED MORE THAN $1 MILLION

Mr Mehajer has dismissed the cases and said they are all old news but admitted to news.com.au that he relishes the attention his new found fame has brought him.

This morning, it was revealed that the collapse of two companies owned by Mr Mehajer has left the tax office being owed more than a $1 million. The winding up of SM Engineering and Construction and SM Project Developments could see the man with ambitions to be prime minister barred from managing corporations, reported The Australian.

Despite his apparent love of the limelight, even Mr Mehajer might be hoping the end of this week can’t come fast enough.

On Saturday night, he was stopped in his white Ferrari in western Sydney with police issuing him with two traffic notices for driving an unregistered vehicle and driving without a licence as well as a defect notice, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Minutes later he was pulled over again for allegedly ignoring instructions not to drive and was issued with a court notice for November 18.

The alleged traffic offences come just weeks after Mr Mehajer was hit with a defect notice for another of his vehicles leading to a series of Facebook rants by the deputy mayor where he implored police to “go out there and target real criminals”.

By Tuesday, Mr Mehajer was fronting up to the NSW Supreme Court where he is being sued with his business partner Min Hua for almost $700,000 over alleged breaches of duties relating to the failure of SM Project Developments.

The company’s liquidator, Anthony Elkerton of Dean Willcocks advisory told The Australian he was pursuing the pair, claiming they breached their directors’ duties.

Yesterday, it was the councillor’s home decoration under scrutiny at Newtown local court. A marble importer alleged Mr Mehajer had yet to settle the bill for work on a spiral staircase at his Lidcombe mansion which has featured in a rap music clip and a glossy magazine.

THE SYDNEY TOUR OF SALIM

Like a tourist keen to fulfil his bucket list of attractions, Mr Mehajer has exhaustively worked his way around a slew of Sydney’s local courts. If you want to follow, pilgrim like, in his footsteps your first stop should be Bankstown local court where, in 2008, Mr Mehajer was found guilty of maliciously destroying or damaging property. The magistrate did not record a conviction and he was put on a 12-month good behaviour bond, reported the Daily Telegraph.

The following year, he was convicted at Burwood local court over two counts of possessing a police uniform and possessing or attempting to possess a “prescribed restricted substance”. He fought the convictions on appeal and won.

Your next stop should be Parramatta, whose critical role in the birth of modern Australia is often overlooked. And it was here in 2012 that Mr Mehajer appeared in court after he allegedly hit two women with his $300,000 Ferrari. He was convicted of negligent driving causing grievous bodily harm but successfully appealed the conviction in August 2013. However, the women involved are suing him for damages.

It’s time to head towards the coast as we arrive in Sutherland. It was here, in September 2013, that Mr Mehajer appeared in the local court where he was fined $1000 after pleading guilty to being a company director or secretary and not making out a statement of company affairs and not delivering books to a liquidator, reported the Daily Telegraph.

There are some destinations we can’t help but visit again and for Mr Mehajer that’s Burwood local court where, on November 19, he will appear charged with intimidation. The charges relate to an incident where the councillor allegedly threatened the father of Sydney siege survivor Joel Herat outside a fitness club.

The alleged conflict began inside the club when Mr Herat asked Mr Mehajer to stop dropping weights on the floor.

When confronted, Mr Mehajer allegedly said: “Don’t you know who I am?”

When Mr Herat went to his car later, police were told Mr Mehajer approached him.

“I’m Salim Mehajer,” he allegedly said. “I’m going to take this further. I’m going to find out where you live and have your kids kidnapped.”

But in a written statement to Nine News, Mr Mehajer denied the allegations and said he planned to sue the club and Mr Herat for $10 million in damages.

‘I BELONG ON THE FRONT PAGE’

Mr Mehajer conceded he had been in the spotlight recently. “Yes [there’s been] a lot of attention this week,” he told news.com.au. “But [the cases] are all old news, almost four years old.”

As for the incessant attention — well, it’s water of a duck’s back.

“I belong nowhere else but on the front page,” he said.

In an apparent effort to soften his image, Mr Mehajer and his wife Aysha dropped into Lidcombe’s McDonald’s earlier this month to help raise funds for a children’s charity.

Sadly, you don’t get frequent flyer points for going to court but the deputy mayor’s conga line of courtroom appearances has done wonders for his celebrity status. If his dream of becoming prime minister doesn’t come true, media experts have predicted a lucrative career on reality television.

Earlier this month, Mr Mehajer confirmed he had been approached by TV networks and producers. But, he told news.com.au, he would not appear on just any show.

“My reputation is ever so important to me,” Mr Mehajer said. “If I was to appear on any [TV show] it will be one that maintains professionalism and does not depict behaviour that will tarnish my reputation.”

Perhaps he should consider travel writing as another career move.