Salim Mehajer under investigation following up to 30 insurance claims
A string of insurance claims made by Salim Mehajer dating back to 2009 have come to light following allegations of fraudulent claims by the former Auburn deputy mayor.
Following Mr Mehajer's involvement in a car crash on Monday, which saw him miss court on assault charges, a confidential source has revealed to 7News that the vehicle involved was only insured just days before the collision.
And the source also revealed that an alleged 30 claims have been lodged by Mr Mehajer and his companies since 2009, the majority with NRMA Insurance.
Monday’s crash left the former Auburn councillor needing hospital treatment, forcing back his two hearings on assault charges to next year.
The source informed 7 News the Mercedes SUV involved in that incident is insured for approximately $150,000 and the policy was less than a fortnight old.
Five vehicles linked to Mr Mehajer have been involved in similar crashes, either "T-boned" or broadsides, and all were assessed by investigators as stationary at the time of impact.
Insured drivers also include is sister Fatima, his business partner Ahmed Yaseen and numerous associates. His father Mohammed and sister Khadija are among the insured owners while one of the third party insured drivers is his estranged wife. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing on their part.
NRMA Insurance and NSW Police have both confirmed they are investigating the insurance claims.
"The NSW Police Force has recently received referrals related to reports of fraudulent insurance claims," a NSW Police spokesperson said.
"Investigations into these matters are now underway."
A spokesman for Salim Mehajer said the allegations must refer to approximate 18 windscreen claims.
Fraudulent claims are an expensive business for insurance companies and comes at a cost for other drivers.
"We estimate [fraudulent insurance claims] are worth north of two billion dollars a year and adds about $75 to every insurance premium in Australia," Insurance Council of Australia spokesman Campbell Fuller said.
