Salim Mehajer blames 'hidden agendas' and 'political games' for fraud charges

Controversial deputy mayor Salim Mehajer has hit back at charges in relation to forging documents to ‘rig the 2012 Auburn Council ballot’.

Mr Mehajer told Yahoo7 he felt the charges were ‘all a political game’ which targeted Auburn Council as a whole and perhaps had some sort of ‘hidden agenda’.

The Auburn Deputy Mayor has been in his seat for four years now and posed the question, "why didn't they (AFP) act earlier when the case was open and when I personally contacted the AFP many times in 2012, 2013 and 2014 to take this matter seriously and deal with it as priority?"

He went on to say "welcome to politics, a world full of 'hidden agendas', and in this case one to make me 'step down'".

Mr Mehajer and his siter Fatima have been charged with using forged documents and producing a false or misleading document, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

The Australian Federal Police confirmed on Sunday it had served court attendance notices to eight Sydney people for electoral fraud offences, after a referral from the Australian Electoral Commission in August 2012.

The AFP has charged Mr Mehajer, 29, and Fatima, 25, brother-in-law Jamal Elkheir and five others who ran as candidates in the council poll.

Mr Mehajer told Yahoo7, "the matter with the AFP was open in 2012 and it revolved around the location and place of residence of my team running for the election."

He claims that if their case was strong, "they would of not let me sit a day in council since '2012'."

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According to reports, Aisha and Salim's wedding may have cost up to $200,000. Photo: Supplied

"Just like how we were confirmed to merge with Strathfield, Burwood and Canada Bay & now they are trying to merge us otherwise," he said.

While Fatima Kandil, Jamal Elkheir, Ahmad Trad, Abhinav Mehta, Arjun Mehta and Shi Lao have also been charged with producing a false or misleading document, for which the maximum penalty is two years imprisonment.

All eight are set to face Sydney's Downing Centre court in February.

Mr Mehajer first made headlines in August for his show-stopping, lavish wedding in western Sydney and has since resisted repeated calls from fellow councillors to resign as deputy mayor.

Aysha and Salim Mehajer got married in August and their lavish wedding went viral. Photo: Supplied

Controversial deputy mayor Salim Mehajer has had run-ins with the law numerous times in the past few months. Photo:

He learnt on Friday that his council role will cease to exist when Auburn merges with Holroyd Council under government plans to cut 43 Sydney councils down to 25.

Not that it worries the man who has said he wants to one day be prime minister.

"I have my positive mind set. Despite the change, I believe the outcome will be great," he told AAP.

"The mind is a powerful tool when you fill it with positive things."

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