Salim Mehajer, a former deputy mayor of Auburn in western Sydney, has been released on parole after serving nearly five years in prison. His release follows convictions in 2023 for multiple offences, including domestic violence against his ex-partner and forgery, occurring between April 2018 and October 2020. Mehajer received a sentence of seven years and nine months, with a non-parole period of three years and nine months.
During his time in prison at the John Moroney Correctional Complex, Mehajer spent roughly 17 hours a day in his cell for safety reasons. His parole comes with strict conditions that prohibit any contact with his victim and members of motorcycle gangs, as well as a ban on entering the Central Coast local government area.
Despite opposition from the commissioner of corrective services regarding his release, the State Parole Authority assessed his risk of re-offending as “medium.” While incarcerated, Mehajer completed several educational courses and is expected to continue similar pursuits post-release, along with attending sessions with a psychiatrist.
Mehajer had previously gained public attention for his extravagant wedding in 2015, which involved shutting down a street and reportedly cost around $1 million. His notoriety and subsequent legal troubles have drawn widespread media coverage, marking a significant fall from grace for the former property developer.