Former Merri-bek councillor to face trial over voter fraud
A former Melbourne councillor accused of stealing and forging votes in a local election has been committed to stand trial.
Milad El-Halabi was elected to the north-west ward of the Moreland City Council – now Merri-bek City Council – in October 2020.
Milad El-Halabi outside court on MondayCredit:Jason South
But police allege El-Halabi, his wife Dianna, 52, and daughter Tania, 26, stole, forged and interfered with postal ballots in the lead up to the election.
After a two-day committal hearing, Magistrate Stephen Ballek on Tuesday determined there was sufficient evidence for the case to go to trial.
The trio, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, were released on bail ahead of a directions hearing in the County Court in Melbourne next month.
The court was told there were 83 suspicious ballots submitted to the Victorian Electoral Commission as part of the 2020 Moreland council election.
Police alleged the DNA of the three accused was found on some of the ballots.
There court also heard allegations a resident in the city’s north-west ward saw a “male person” in a skirt doorknocking properties and checking letterboxes for voting packs in the lead up to the election.
When the resident confronted the man, he allegedly told her Milad had sent him.
A report to Crime Stoppers stated the man lived at a Glenroy address, but Detective Leading Senior Constable Mark Homberg told the court that police checks confirmed that resident was not involved.
The El-Halabis are not allowed to contact witnesses or leave the state or country while on bail.
AAP
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