Disgraced property developer Salim Mehajer has hard-launched his new relationship with a mystery brunette on social media.
It's been 10 months since the bankrupt one-time Auburn deputy mayor walked out of western Sydney's John Morony Correctional Centre after five years behind bars.
Since his highly-publicised release, the 39-year-old has kept a low profile, apart from the occasional post on his private Instagram account, several court appearances, and running errands in his Tesla Model 3.
Mehajer took to social media on Tuesday to share a selfie with his new dark-haired flame, whose face was blurred in the photo.
'With my best friend, my soulmate, and my forever Queen (Inshallah),' he captioned the selfie, along with a pink heart emoji.
Mehajer appeared to be sporting a fresh haircut in the selfie.
It comes just weeks after the one-time mayor suffered a major legal setback when a Sydney court threw out his application for an apprehended violence order against his former partner, who he was previously jailed for assaulting.
In documents tendered to Parramatta Local Court, Mehajer alleged that he felt harassed, intimidated and unsafe leaving his home.
Salim Mehajer took to social media to share a selfie with his new dark-haired flame
Since his highly-publicised release from jail last July, the 39-year-old has kept a low profile
The application claimed that Mehajer had experienced repeated issues with his electronic devices since his release from prison and alleged the woman had taken control of his Apple iCloud account and email by changing the password and linking her own telephone number.
The AVO was dismissed last month as Mehajer had not been granted leave by a Supreme Court judge to initiate the proceedings after he was declared a 'vexatious litigant' in 2022.
The ruling means Mehajer cannot launch any civil proceedings in any court in NSW until expressly allowed by the court, including private AVOs.
The decision was made after he attempted to sue 17 defendants for $52million over the fallout of a development project which left him bankrupt.
Mehajer's solicitor Zali Burrows tried to argue in court last month that the vexatious litigant orders did not prohibit her client from initiating or pursuing procedural applications in criminal proceedings, NCA Newswire reported.
She also claimed the private AVO could become a criminal proceeding if the order was made and breached.
The court heard Mehajer had attempted to make an application to a Supreme Court registrar, who had no standing to grant him leave to initiate the AVO.
Prior to his release, Mehajer had been in prison since November 2020. He was jailed for lying to a court and served back-to-back sentences for a string of other offences, including domestic violence against his former partner.
Mehajer suffered a major legal setback when a Sydney court threw out his application for an apprehended violence order against his former partner
The one-time Auburn deputy mayor 2015 with his wedding to Aysha Learmonth
While he has acknowledged the fraud offences, Mehajer has maintained his innocence in relation to the domestic violence convictions, which he claimed, 'simply didn't happen'.
His appeal against those convictions is currently before the Court of Criminal Appeal, with judgement reserved.
Mehajer is still subject to an AVO and is not allowed to contact the woman or travel to the NSW Central Coast.
He revealed to his 127,000 Instagram followers earlier this year that he is currently writing a memoir, warning his former associates that 'not many have made it out unscathed'.
Mehajer vowed to share several extracts prior to the book's release.
Whether he will open up about his lengthy stint in jail remains to be seen.
His incarceration included stints in Sydney's infamous Silverwater maximum-security prison and a week in Goulburn Supermax while in transit from Cooma.
Mehajer refused protective custody to avoid associating with 'rapists, paedophiles and informants'.
Prior to his release last July, the NSW State Parole Authority ruled that Mehajer had completed all possible programs in prison and that his rehabilitation was better served in the community under the supervision of a psychologist and community corrections officers.
The one-time mayor (pictured) has vowed to turn around his tarnished reputation
As part of his strict parole conditions, Mehajer must undergo drug and alcohol testing, participate in domestic violence programs if directed, and not communicate with any outlaw motorcycle gang bikies or associates.
Mehajer reappeared on social media within hours of his release from jail.
'I am forever grateful,' he shared on Instagram. 'I am fully committed to fulfilling the expectations placed before me.
'Additionally, I express my sincere appreciation for the unwavering support of my family and friends, as well as the dedication of my legal representative, who has consistently stood by me throughout this journey.'
Mehajer rose to prominence following his elaborate $1million wedding to Aysha Learmonth in Sydney's western suburbs in 2015.
The ceremony began with the groom arriving via helicopter and featured a motorcade of luxury vehicles and doves, which closed an entire street in Lidcombe.
The event attracted controversy after Mehajer sent fake flyers to neighbours warning them their cars would be towed if they got in the way.
But despite leaving the local council and police furious, he remained unapologetic about the chaos, instead telling the media he wanted to be the next 'superstar.'
The couple split just eight months later.