Auburn Deputy Mayor Salim Mehajer was returned to office only a few days ago, but he already finds himself at the centre of a new controversy, with accusations that he made threats to have a man’s children kidnapped.
Per reports in Seven News, Mehajer – who does, apparently, even lift – was at Anytime Fitness on Railway Parade in Burwood when a personal trainer approached him and asked him to stop dropping weights on the floor.
Mehajer was allegedy having none of this request to observe gym etiquette, and reports claim that he fired back with that old chestnut “do you know who I am?”
Seven’s report makes the pretty serious claim that, 20 minutes after the original incident, Mehajer confronted the trainer in the gym’s carpark, where he allegedly made threats to find out that man’s address and have his family kidnapped.
In a further twist, the trainer in question was 52-year-old Bruce Herat, whose son Joel Herat was one of the survivors of last year’s Lindt Cafe siege on Martin Place.
Police are looking into the matter, but have made only a brief statement to the media, saying that they are investigating “an incident involving two men aged 29 and 52, where a number of threats where allegedly made by one of the parties.”
CCTV footage of the night of September 16 is being reviewed, and anyone with knowledge of the incident is asked to contact Burwood Police.
Mehajer has not responded to questions about this latest allegation, but accused Fairfax of “silly journalism” when they asked him about Seven’s report.
via Yahoo Seven / Fairfax
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