Embattled property developer Salim Mehajer appears to have recovered from the car accident that rendered him unable to attend court last week.
The former deputy mayor recently missed two court hearings in Sydney after a crash last Monday morning left him in hospital.
But Mehajer finally made into court on Tuesday morning over a civil dispute related to a land transaction.
Mehajer left in the passenger seat of a car, suggesting that he may not yet be fit to drive.
Property developer Salim Mehajer walked into court without his crutches on Tuesday morning
The former mayor left court without using crutches and got into the passenger seat of a car
Mehajer failed to show up to two separate hearings last week on medical grounds, with his lawyer saying he had been in a ‘serious’ motor accident.
His lawyer produced a medical certificate excusing his absence, and a spokesman for Mehajer later slammed claims the accident was staged as ‘evil’ and ‘ludicrous’.
Mehajer was warned by the magistrate that if he does not show at court this week for review of a lawsuit brought by Jason Tran, then his defence will be ‘struck out’.
In that case, Mr Tran would ‘be at liberty to apply for a default judgment’.
The media followed Sam Mehajer out of court and into a waiting vehicle on Tuesday afternoon
An injured Salim Mehajer used crutches last week as he recovered from Monday’s car accident
The controversial former mayor appeared to have recovered from his car crash last Monday
The former Auburn deputy mayor was due to appear in the Downing Centre Local Court last Monday over charges of assaulting a Channel Seven journalist last year.
But just after leaving his home on the way to court, his white Mercedes 4WD was involved in a crash, trapping him inside for up to 20 minutes.
He was rushed to Westmead Hospital with neck injuries after the accident on Delhi Street, in Lidcombe.
The car crash involving the controversial businessman occurred very close to his residence
Pictures from the scene show Mr Mehajer being pulled from his white Mercedes on a stretcher
The businessman was set to appear in court four times throughout the week for a variety of civil and criminal charges.
The accident happened just streets from Mehajer’s house, and his lawyer shut down a press conference last Monday immediately after being asked whether it was simply a coincidence he was in a car crash on a day he was due to be in court.
A fire and rescue crew member holds Mehajer’s neck in place while he was trapped in the car
Mehajer was treated at the scene for pain and taken to Westmead Hospital in a stable condition
Mehajer was also a no-show at another District Court dispute, involving the stonemason behind the marble spiral staircase at his Lidcombe mansion.
He told his solicitor he was in ‘in Canberra following the death of my grandmother’ at the time of that court appearance.
But judge ruled Mehajer would have had ‘no doubt’ of the hearing date and ruled for him to pay a bill of nearly $670,000 plus legal costs to the tradesman.
Mehajer was due to appear in court on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday last week