Former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer has pleaded not guilty to robbing and assaulting a taxi driver outside Sydney's Star Casino and assaulting a journalist.
Mehajer, 30, appeared at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday where his lawyer Mahmoud Abbas entered a plea of not guilty in relation to the four alleged offences earlier this month.
Police allege Mehajer threw an eftpos terminal machine at the taxi driver's face and stole his iPhone - worth $1500 - outside the Star Casino at Pyrmont in the early hours of April 2.
He's also alleged to have intentionally destroyed another iPhone belonging to Chiara Lisciotto who AAP understands works at the casino.
Mehajer was arrested after the early morning incident and taken to Darlinghurst police station where he was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and larceny.
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But it didn't end there.
Hours later a taxi driver who'd come to pick up Mehajer from the Day Street police station didn't drive him away and asked police to remove Mehajer from the cab.
Mehajer later got into a white Porsche and subsequently Seven Network journalist Laura Banks was caught between the car door and the Porsche.
Police allege Mehajer caused the reporter actual bodily harm.
Mehajer is excused from attending his next court date on June 9.
An investigation was launched into Auburn City Council after Mehajer's opulent wedding in August 2015 thrust the western Sydney council into the national spotlight when he shut down a street in the suburb of Lidcombe.
