Sydney student unknowingly wearing demerit points accrued against controversial deputy mayor Salim Mehajer
Seven News can reveal that NSW Police are investigating accusations demerit points accrued against vehicles connected to controversial Sydney developer and local politician Salim Mehajer were shifted to a man who had no idea what was going on.
Worse still, the victim claims Mr Mehajer's people tried to buy his silence.
International student Abdel Razzak was forced to visit Burwood local court to appeal his driving suspension and then go directly to the police to report the suspicious transferring of demerit points onto his international licence.
"I haven't seen him in my life," Mr Razzak told 7 News of Mr Mehajer.
"Only I know him like everyone after his wedding, he has a big wedding here, after his wedding everyone started knowing him."
Mr Mehajer, the Deputy Mayor of Auburn who was suspended on Friday for failing to disclose financial interests, drives a fleet of luxury vehicles.
Salim Mehajer's Ferrari was in 2014 caught doing 120km/h in the cross city tunnel while another Ferrari was caught speeding in Hurstville in 2013 - both were registered to the Mehajer Brothers company and listed Mr Mehajer's home address.
However, all the penalty notices were issued to 24-year-old former student Abdel Razzak.
At least 11 demerit points for the Mehajer cars wound up on his licence.
"I'll lose the job and I can't survive my life," he said of what would happen if he can't drive because of a possible driving suspension.
"I have to survive my life thats why I have to work."
For these demerit points to have ended up on Mr Razzak's licence, someone would have had to have made a false statutory declaration - a very serious offence punishable with a $5,500 fine and five years in jail.
Mr Razzak says he doesn't know why his licence details were used but it is a common offence by delinquent drivers.
"Whoever put my name in this statutory declaration for no reason and signed instead of me, they will get charged," he said.
Mr Mehajer's camp claims Abdel tried to blackmail them, or he'd 'tell his lies' to the media. They say his claims are false and they have records showing he was the driver, having hired the cars - but they failed to provide 7 News with any evidence.
Mr Razzak says on three occasions over the last three weeks he met with Mr Mehajer's people, who allegedly offered him money to not talk with 7 News and somehow get rid of the points on his licence.
Instead, Mr Razzak made it very clear that he's not taking anything from Mr Mehajer and the matter is already before police and the court.
SALIM MEHAJER'S HEADLINE-MAKING ANTICS
* THE WEDDING:
Salim Mehajer's wedding shut down streets in Sydney's west in August.
He hired four helicopters that landed in a local park, while his fiancee Aysha travelled with a $50 million motorcade of 45 motorbikes and 35 luxury cars.
"In all our years in the wedding industry, we thought we had seen it all. One groom however, decided to prove us wrong," said videographers from Iconic Films.
He was later fined $220 for shutting down streets without authorisation.
* MEHAJER MINI MOVIES:
A short movie trailer of how Salim found his wife, Aysha, emerged following the wedding.
Another video of the pair dressed as an elderly couple was also released online.
The couple had numerous makeovers to appear older for "The Road to 90 - Pre-Wedding Film".
* POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS:
In his first televised interview since his lavish wedding, Salim stood at a lectern and said he would like to be prime minister.
"I'd like to make my way up to the very top spot. That would (be) my dream come true," Mehajer said.
* LEGAL AFFAIRS:
The property developer has become a regular in courts, the most serious case being a charge of forging documents to rig the 2012 Auburn Council ballot.
He has been accused of threatening the father of Lindt Cafe siege survivor Joel Herat, as well as offences related to his Ferrari with number plate 00-BO55 (as in BOSS).
Salim has also faced civil cases over a lavish staircase at his home, cleaning bill and Ferrari crash that injured two women.
* WELCOMING SCRUTINY:
"They can investigate all they like, I've got nothing to hide," he said after his August wedding.
On January 29, 2016, he was suspended from civic office for four months for failing to disclose his financial interests.
The decision may signal the end of Salim's political career with Auburn City Council set to be suspended next week and the council then potentially amalgamated.
