Salim Mehajer arrested2:28
Property developer Salim Mehajer has been arrested by local police on the Spanish party island of Ibiza. Video by Backgrid
Salim Mehajer: Former deputy mayor arrested in Ibiza
CONTROVERSIAL property developer Salim Mehajer’s tendency for trouble with the law has followed him all the way to the Spanish party island of Ibiza.
Auburn’s controversial former deputy mayor and two associates were caught on camera being arrested by Spanish police, reportedly over a spat with a taxi driver.
The footage, which aired on A Current Affair, shows Mr Mehajer furiously trying to talk his way out of the run-in with police, but he is frisked, handcuffed and thrown into the back of a police vehicle.
Despite the apparent seriousness of the situation Mr Mehajer can be seen giggling as he slides across the back seat of the car.
The taxi driver reportedly called police after Mr Mehajer and his friends spilt takeaway food and soft drinks in his car and Mr Mehajer allegedly tried to kick him from the back seat.
Two police showed up immediately on foot and called for backup.
Mr Mehajer did not respond to requests for comment from The Daily Telegraph.
There were no reports of any charges being laid.
His Instagram page reveals the arrest came at the end of a lavish, month-long European trip. In an Instagram post over the weekend, he confirmed he was still in Ibiza and had retained his liberty. “Life goes on in Ibiza. While every bar and club are closed during this season, the ocean remains,” he posted with a sunset photo.
The property developer flew back into Sydney late Monday. Waiting for him at the airport was a 10 person entourage bearing balloons and flowers from the terminal gift shop.
The group, including sister Kat and brother-in-law Ibraham Sakalaki, and father, refused to speak to a waiting press pack.
Mr Mehajer’s firmly held conviction he is above the law stretches further back than the infamous wedding, that shut down his street without permission from the council he served on, that made him a household name last year.
In 2011 he seriously injured two women in his Ferrari and was convicted of negligent driving. He had his license disqualified and was sentenced to 150 hours community service but his sentence was overturned on appeal.
The women sued Mehajer receiving a $1.72 million payout in October, 2015.
In 2014 Mehajer was investigated over his pecuniary interests while on council. He was suspended from civic office for a month for failing to disclose his business and property interests.
Then came his short term marriage to April Learmonth, who changed her name to Aysha.
The marriage lasted less than year after their lavish August 2015 wedding. Ms Learmonth took out an AVO following alleged threats by Mr Mehajer which he recorded on his phone.
Last week the Daily Telegraph reported the Australian Taxation Office was pursuing his parents Mohamad Mehajer, 60, and Amal Mehajer, 56, for $10 million in unpaid taxes.
