The lawyer for an embattled former politician argued he must be “the worst forger in the world” to have faked the signatures of his sister and former high-profile lawyer.
Former deputy mayor Salim Mehajer wore a navy swimsuit on Thursday as he confronted the ultimate day of a fraud trial within the NSW District Court.
He has pleaded not responsible to creating two false paperwork and wielding them to acquire a monetary benefit in March 2020.
Police allege the 37-year-old solid the signature of his former high-profile solicitor Zali Burrows so as to witness his personal signature in a doc submitted to the Federal Court.
During the seven-day trial, Ms Burrows instructed the court docket that she had been appearing in a trial in Parramatta on March 13 when her title was signed on the affidavit at Sydney’s CBD.
She repeatedly denied signing the doc, however defence lawyer Ben Hart argued that she had probably forgotten she had “signed a routine document”.
Mr Mehajer was accused of counterfeiting Ms Burrows’ signature to witness a doc asking the High Court to take away the trustee in control of his chapter.
Crown prosecutor Daniel Boyle mentioned the previous politician was making an attempt to “gain financial advantage” by changing the chapter guardian to attempt to “get his money back”.
Mr Hart refuted the declare, noting his consumer needed to pay a considerable charge to submit the request and he wouldn’t have been in a position to decide on his new trustee.
“He’s at a disadvantage. He’s $1500 worse off by filing the documents,” he mentioned.
Mr Mehajer was additionally charged with forging Ms Burrows’ signature for a second time a couple of days later so as to witness his sister’s autograph, which he additionally allegedly falsified.
The court docket was instructed that the alleged internet of lies associated to $6530 in money that was discovered hidden inside Mr Mehajer’s dwelling after he was declared bankrupt.
An skilled testified that the disgraced politician ought to have declared the funds to the trustee in control of his insolvency who can be entitled to say the funds.
The jury was instructed Mr Mehajer declared the wads of $50 payments belonged to his sister, Zenah Osman, and it ought to be returned.
In a heated e mail trade learn in court docket, the siblings have been requested to supply proof that the cash belonged to Ms Osman and clarify its origins.
“Time was running out and he knew he had to get the statutory declaration out or else he would lose the money,” Mr Boyle mentioned.
“He was left in a position where he had no other option than to forge his sister’s signature and also (Ms Burrows’) signature on that particular document.”
The prosecutor instructed the 12-person jury that Mr Mehajer was conversant in the signatures of his former lawyer and his sister, and he “attempted to put them on paper”.
A handwriting skilled testified in the course of the trial that there was sturdy proof that the signatures weren’t real.
“The Crown submits that, as evidenced by the documents, he was prepared to go to any lengths to expedite the advancement of his own financial interests,” Mr Boyle mentioned.
However, Mr Hart instructed the jury they need to discover it “very difficult to rely on (his) expertise” as a result of the handwriting samples offered had not been constant.
He argued his consumer can be “the worst forger in the world” to have dedicated the offences laid out by the Crown prosecution.
Mr Mehajer had included his sister within the e mail he despatched with the statutory declaration in regards to the money, which his lawyer argued would have been a nonsensical determination if he knew it was false.
The court docket was instructed Mr Mehajer accepted that Ms Osman’s signature wasn’t real, however he claimed he wasn’t conscious of that on the time he despatched the assertion.
Mr Hart mentioned he had “no doubt” the seven males and 5 ladies of the jury would discover Mr Mehajer not responsible.
Judge James Bennett famous Mr Mehajer was an individual of “notoriety” however requested the jurors to not permit “prejudice to taint (their) deliberations”.
The jury has retired to think about their verdict.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
