Salim Mehajer’s former bodyguard now 'debt collector' for alleged drug and arms dealer
Salim Mehajer’s former bodyguard is reportedly now working as a debt collector for an alleged Gold Coast drug and arms dealer, police claim.
Police have alleged Waled Elriche was hired by Matthew Delander, 33, to collect money for drug debts in 2015.
There is no suggestion that Waled Elriche or Salim Mehajer are involved with drug or firearm dealing.
Elriche attended the former former Auburn deputy mayor’s controversial wedding in Lidcombe, western Sydney, last year.
He was often seen out with Mehajer and has a documented history of violence.
The Daily Telegraph reports police had recordings of Delander gloating about how Elriche was “was very, very, very, very effective” at debt collection.
Elriche was reportedly referred to by Delander as “the Big Leb” and claimed to be “the main debt collector in Australia”.
The paper reported Delander spoke of Elriche fighting a group of “six Samoans” which he claimed “he bashed the c***s”.
In 2015 Elriche was sentenced to nine months jail after demanding payment for a $25,000 debt from a man in Castle Hill.
Elriche claimed he didn’t know the victim and only wanted to help his friend to collect an outstanding debt.
In 2014, he was filmed throwing punches during a brawl at Stereosonic music festival.
Delander, who has reported links to the Black Uhlans motorcycle gang, is on remand for drug trafficking and weapons charges.
Last year he was also charged with firing a gun from his $200,000 Mercedes-Benz.
