A Current Affair has released shocking footage of polarising figure, Salim Mehajer, hurling abuse at wife Aysha Learmonth.
The former Auburn deputy mayor was recorded yelling into a phone camera at his wife, threatening both her and her family.
“Aysha, you’ve got five minutes to give me a call! Give me a call in five minutes … I’m gonna rape your mum and your f—ing dad! Call me now!” he says in the video. “Aysha, I hope you die, you sl-t.
“I swear on the Koran, I swear on God, I’m not leaving today.
“And I hope you die, you f—ing sl-t. You f—ed 12 guys, you sl-t. You f—ed 12 guys. You f—ing sl-t. You f—ing sl-t.”
The former councillor’s wife moved out of the couple’s home earlier this year and changed her name, the program claimed.
This is despite it being less than twelve months since Mr Mehajer became infamous when he shut down a Sydney street for his wedding to Aysha, leading to an investigation into his role at the council and his suspension as a councillor, as well as an ongoing investigation into corruption at the council.
The videos were apparently released by a concerned friend of Aysha’s, however Salim is maintaining it was all a set-up.
“Aysha is a beautiful, warm, amazing individual, whom I believe was betrayed, or set-up by someone who supplied A Current Affair with these out of context videos to make a sensationalised story,” he said in a statement to Fairfax.
Earlier this year Mehajer insisted “only death” would end his marriage, denying claims wife Aysha had applied for an AVO against him.
The suspended Auburn councillor accused NSW Police of having a “vendetta” against him, telling news.com.au officers had filed for the apprehended violence order without Aysha’s consent.
“Aysha has NOT taken out an AVO against me,” he said. “The police are pursuing for an AVO.
“The police seem to have nothing better to do then follow our footsteps [sic],” he said.
Mr Mehajer also insisted his relationship with his wife had never been better, claiming rumours their marriage was on the rocks were unfounded.
“As mentioned before, only death will do us apart [sic],” he said.
He also previously denied reports of abuse after police were called to Aysha’s sister’s home near Wollongong earlier this year after Mr Mehajer was allegedly “yelling and screaming at the door”.
He previously posted on his social media accounts about what it takes to ‘be a man’.
“Being a MALE is a matter of birth, being a MAN is a matter of age, but being a GENTLEMAN is a matter of choice,” he said.
Prior to the footage airing, reporter Alison Piotrwoski told Today that the footage was hard to swallow.
“I’ve worked at A Current Affair for nearly eight years now and I’ve seen some very confronting stuff — some we’ve shown on camera, some we haven’t. And I do have to say, this is the most confronting video I’ve seen in my eight years on the show,” she said.
“What’s more disgusting is that there were threats of sexual violence, and I think that’s what has really shaken me.”
NSW Police have confirmed they will review the full footage, which ACA have agreed to provide to them.
