Salim Mehajer, a former politician, is currently in jail awaiting trial for domestic violence charges against his ex-girlfriend Melissa Tysoe.
Last week, he lost his bail application, with the Court of Appeal citing the “reasonably strong” crown case against him.
The court heard that Mr Mehajer made a call to his sister after being accused of choking and assaulting his ex-girlfriend, during which he said, “whatever I did… I swear to God, I did out of spite.”
Mr Mehajer has pleaded not guilty to seven charges, including four counts of common assault, one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, intimidation, and intentionally suffocating a victim with recklessness.
He was charged with these domestic violence offences on December 23, 2020.
His sister also sent a text message to his former partner asking her to withdraw the charges.
Mr Mehajer’s legal proceedings have been tumultuous, and he argued that he should be allowed out on bail to prepare for his trial.
However, the Court of Appeal denied his request, and he remains on remand at Mid North Coast Correctional Facility in Kempsey, New South Wales.
He is eligible for parole after being jailed in April 2021 on unrelated charges of perverting the course of justice and making a false statement under oath.
Justice Garling wrote in his judgment that Mr Mehajer argued for his freedom on the ground that the case would rest on electronic material, which he could not study from prison.
Mr Mehajer also claimed that he needed to be freed to replace a SIM card that he had given to his alleged victim when he was taken into custody in November 2020.
However, Justice Garling was sceptical about Mr Mehajer’s claims, stating that his supporters were well known to him, and he was seeking Legal Aid funding.
Furthermore, Justice Garling noted that Mr Mehajer’s defence case was that none of the alleged offences had occurred and that he did not need access to extensive documents or electronic material.
As a result, the court found no reason to grant Mr Mehajer’s bail application. He will return to court next week.