'Bipolar' Salim Mehajer's bid to avoid jail over voter fraud

Salim Mehajer has taken the stand at his own sentencing hearing, issuing a “heartfelt apology” to his family and the community.

Mehajer, 31, revealed the effect his conviction on dozens of charges of vote-rigging at the 2012 Auburn Council election has had on him.

“I may appear to be a hard shell but inside I am hurt. I’m shattered. I’m upset,” he told the court.

During his hour in the witness box, Mehajer repeatedly told the court “I’m not here to defend myself” and said he wanted to “take responsibility for my actions”.

However, he said he never intended to commit electoral fraud.

“I didn’t do it to attempt to try to get in. It was a poor decision at the time. It was stupidity,” he said.

“I wasn’t intending to rig the election to get in but my actions were negligent I believe. Reckless.”

While he appeared to admit to some of the charges, he said: “There’s some that I didn’t do ... I actually got given those papers. I did. That’s the truth.”

He claimed the forms came from people who attended his campaign dinners and wanted to register to vote.

He said he chose his running mates “for love”, and that they were friends but not good candidates.

“It was a big boys’ game. It wasn’t for children and that’s what we were,” Mehajer said.

“We were vague and silly and we didn’t belong there.”

He also denied his sister Fatima, who was found guilty of the same charges, was even involved.

“She just stood by me, that’s all really,” Mehajer said.

He also admitted Fatima was his favorite sister.

Mehajer revealed he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and at least five of his sisters had suggested prior to this year that he seek help.

“The wedding, first of all, was when they first thought ‘you seriously have issues’,” he said.

His lawyer argued the illness would make an prison term more onerous on him, suggesting any sentence should be kept short.

The man who came to light as the deputy mayor of Auburn was asked whether he would consider a political career in the future and he gave a politician’s answer.

“It's definitely not on my mind right now,” he said, but added he thinks his conviction might make him ineligible.