Salim Mehajer's defence lawyer has dramatically quit an assault case citing an "ethical dilemma", although the controversial Sydney businessman says he couldn't afford to pay the solicitor.
High-profile lawyer Brett Galloway withdrew from the case on Wednesday moments before a tired-looking Mehajer appeared at the Downing Centre Local Court after spending a week in prison over another matter.
The former Auburn deputy mayor, accused of assaulting and robbing a taxi driver, has one day to find a replacement.
The property developer denies throwing an Eftpos machine at the cabbie's face - leaving him with nose injuries - and stealing his $1500 iPhone outside Sydney's Star Casino in April 2017.
The 31-year-old sought an adjournment to appoint a new lawyer, saying he'd been unable to pay Mr Galloway's legal fees because of a court order freezing his finances.
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But speaking outside court, Mr Galloway said his decision had "nothing to do with money" and that he was faced with an ethical dilemma.
"I've been asked to take a position which is untenable," Mr Galloway earlier told magistrate Vivien Swain.
Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Amin Assaad on Wednesday warned the magistrate to take Mehajer's words with a "very, very large grain of salt".
Ms Swain granted Mehajer an adjournment until Thursday due to the serious nature of the charges which could result in him being jailed if found guilty.
"He is entitled to be given an opportunity to seek further representation," she said.
Mehajer said his cash problem arose in December and, although he'd been trying to solve it since January, he's only had access to two phone calls while behind bars.
"If I get an adjournment I will have time to get funding from a different person or entity," he told the court.
"I am happy to pay for the other side's costs for today if need be and, of course, court costs."
Snr Sgt Assaad feared he could lose important witnesses with a second court adjournment - noting he had eight civilians and six police officers ready to give evidence.
Mehajer, who's also a wedding planner, was refused bail last week after being accused of staging a car crash on his way to court in October 2017, days after he'd insured his vehicle for more than $150,000.
A magistrate last week labelled the collision as a "premeditated scheme" to avoid court over the assault charges.
Early last week, he was arrested at a Vaucluse home and charged with perverting the course of justice and conspiracy to cheat and defraud over the crash.
Mehajer was also charged with two fresh counts of stalking and intimidating his estranged wife, Aysha Learmonth, in 2017.
