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| Salim Mehajer says media 'bullied' him before he allegedly assaulted journalist | Salim Mehajer says media 'bullied' him before he allegedly assaulted journalist |
| (1 day later) | |
| Salim Mehajer, the former deputy mayor of the Sydney suburb of Auburn, claims a media pack “bullied” him before he allegedly assaulted a female journalist. | Salim Mehajer, the former deputy mayor of the Sydney suburb of Auburn, claims a media pack “bullied” him before he allegedly assaulted a female journalist. |
| Seven Network reporter Laura Banks pursued Mehajer in April as he left a Sydney CBD police station following his arrest over separate allegations he assaulted a taxi driver outside the Star casino. | Seven Network reporter Laura Banks pursued Mehajer in April as he left a Sydney CBD police station following his arrest over separate allegations he assaulted a taxi driver outside the Star casino. |
| “Is this rock bottom, Salim?” Banks asked him in footage played to Downing Centre local court on Monday. | “Is this rock bottom, Salim?” Banks asked him in footage played to Downing Centre local court on Monday. |
| The video shows Mehajer initially trying to flee in a taxi but the driver then refuses to take him when reporters tell the cabbie of his alleged crimes. | The video shows Mehajer initially trying to flee in a taxi but the driver then refuses to take him when reporters tell the cabbie of his alleged crimes. |
| Banks and other reporters move in, attempting to interview him, and when a Porsche pulls up Mehajer invites Banks to “just jump in”. | Banks and other reporters move in, attempting to interview him, and when a Porsche pulls up Mehajer invites Banks to “just jump in”. |
| He then allegedly slammed the door on her arm, an assault charge to which he has pleaded not guilty. | He then allegedly slammed the door on her arm, an assault charge to which he has pleaded not guilty. |
| “Whichever way I turned, there was a camera,” Mehajer told the court. “I was bullied.” | “Whichever way I turned, there was a camera,” Mehajer told the court. “I was bullied.” |
| The video shown in court suggests another print journalist was sledging Mehajer as he left the police station. | The video shown in court suggests another print journalist was sledging Mehajer as he left the police station. |
| His lawyer, Philip Boulton SC, put it to Banks that she had crossed the boundary between proper and improper behaviour. It was obvious Mehajer did not want to answer questions, he said. | His lawyer, Philip Boulton SC, put it to Banks that she had crossed the boundary between proper and improper behaviour. It was obvious Mehajer did not want to answer questions, he said. |
| “I was doing my job,” Banks replied. | “I was doing my job,” Banks replied. |
| The reporter’s hand bruised “almost immediately” and her back is still sore 10 months after the incident. | The reporter’s hand bruised “almost immediately” and her back is still sore 10 months after the incident. |
| Banks denied repeated suggestions she “goaded” and obstructed Mehajer to prolong the situation. | Banks denied repeated suggestions she “goaded” and obstructed Mehajer to prolong the situation. |
| “You just never know what you’ll get with Mr Mehajer,” she said when asked why she persisted. | “You just never know what you’ll get with Mr Mehajer,” she said when asked why she persisted. |
| The footage shows Mehajer smiling and laughing, the journalist noted. | The footage shows Mehajer smiling and laughing, the journalist noted. |
| “It was almost suggestive, flirtatious,” she said. “Asking me to get in the back of his car. I felt like that was suggestive, [it] had innuendo behind it.” | “It was almost suggestive, flirtatious,” she said. “Asking me to get in the back of his car. I felt like that was suggestive, [it] had innuendo behind it.” |
| Mehajer admitted he sometimes smiles inappropriately and conceded he shut the door with “immense force”. Asked whether he intended to hit Banks with the door, he replied: “Absolutely not.” | Mehajer admitted he sometimes smiles inappropriately and conceded he shut the door with “immense force”. Asked whether he intended to hit Banks with the door, he replied: “Absolutely not.” |
| Mehajer added: “My only thought was to leave.” | Mehajer added: “My only thought was to leave.” |
| Boulton said the invitation for Banks to get in the car was obviously sarcastic and accused her of being the ringleader. | Boulton said the invitation for Banks to get in the car was obviously sarcastic and accused her of being the ringleader. |
| “She was in his face both figuratively and literally,” he said. “What was happening was not journalism, it was not appropriate and it was in fact unlawful.” | “She was in his face both figuratively and literally,” he said. “What was happening was not journalism, it was not appropriate and it was in fact unlawful.” |
| Boulton argued Banks and her colleagues were encouraging Mehajer to breach the peace and he had to take action to avoid doing so. | Boulton argued Banks and her colleagues were encouraging Mehajer to breach the peace and he had to take action to avoid doing so. |
| Magistrate Joanne Keogh referred to the provocation as “obvious”. She reserved her decision until Friday when Mehajer is expected to appear before the same court via video link. | Magistrate Joanne Keogh referred to the provocation as “obvious”. She reserved her decision until Friday when Mehajer is expected to appear before the same court via video link. |
| He has been refused bail on unrelated charges. | He has been refused bail on unrelated charges. |
| Sydney | Sydney |
| New South Wales | New South Wales |
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