Auburn City Council

But the ad does not detail his family's recent legal troubles. The councillor's father, local developer Mohamad Mehajer, was sentenced in December to 3½ years' jail for his part in a conspiracy to cheat and defraud the National Australia Bank of more than $3 million. The court found Mr Mehajer's loan application included false documents intended to present his financial position as ''much rosier than it really was''.

The district court did not accept Cr Mehajer's father's testimony relating to a $2000 payment he gave a bank employee processing the loan he applied for with false documents. Mr Mehajer told the employee ''this is not a bribe'' while handing over the money. The court found it was. He is expected to appeal. Councillor's law degree will not be his first brush with courts Only in Auburn ...