A car dealer banned for life from the industry has been filmed attacking A Current Affair news crew after allegations surfaced that he was operating from another car yard.
See a video of the stoush here.
Mezin Hadad, who has been permanently barred from holding a motor dealer licence in Queensland, along with his company Best Buy Auto Group Pty Ltd, faced a fine totalling $127,000.
This action followed a disciplinary hearing by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT).
Hadad was found guilty of providing false or misleading information to consumers, harassing and coercing customers, and neglecting to repair faulty second-hand cars under warranty. Additionally, he failed to supply essential documents such as ownership statements to customers.
The Channel Nine programme initially ran a story exposing Hadad’s questionable business practices. Following the broadcast, Hadad emailed to say he was ready to do an interview at any time, referring to reporter Reece D’Alessandro as a “loser.”
However, upon the TV crew’s arrival at Fair Dinkum Autos in Clontarf, northeast of Brisbane, the situation turned violent.
Hadad allegedly refused to respond to any questions and threw folders and documents at the reporter. He repeatedly shoved D’Alessandro and his crew and even threw a punch at the cameraman. As D’Alessandro wrapped up the segment, Hadad poured a can of V energy drink over his head.
The confrontation escalated when D’Alessandro questioned Hadad about his presence at the dealership despite his industry ban. A spokesperson for the Clontarf car yard told Daily Mail Australia that Hadad was not employed there but occasionally visited because his family ran the business. “It’s his family’s business. He comes here to water the plants and chat with people. He doesn’t work here and he doesn’t get paid,” she said.
Allegedly a scuffle ensued with Hadad resisting filming and repeatedly shoving the cameraman. “You’re not going to air it, you’re a f***ing grub,” he told the reporter. “You’re a piece of s***, you’re a grub, and you’re not going to air it because you’re a liar, you’re only going to air what you want to air.”
Hadad requested a sit-down discussion only if the cameras were off. However, he once again shoved the cameraman and appeared to strike his face. While the reporter repeatedly asked if he was breaking the law, Hadad avoided answering and suggested they sit down and talk.
When D’Alessandro and Hadad finally sat down for the interview, it lasted only a few seconds.
“Are you Australia’s dodgiest used car dealer?” the ACA reporter asked. Hadad immediately denied this. “No, I’ve been a car dealer for 34 years. If I was, how would I have been a car dealer for 34 years? Answer that!” he said. Hadad then grabbed documents on his desk and threw them at D’Alessandro’s head, before shoving him out of the room and down a walkway. He chased the TV crew out of the dealership, dumping a can of energy drink on the journalist’s head.
Hadad was banned from the Queensland motor industry in January this year after an investigation found multiple breaches of the Motor Dealers Act and Australian consumer law. He was fined $10,000 and ordered to pay $67,607 to affected customers, while his company Best Buy Auto was fined $50,000. The findings were handed down in December last year after a Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearing.
Hadad claimed the breakdown of his marriage had been “emotionally and financially draining.” He also claimed to have attempted suicide five times between 2018 and 2021 and had been admitted to a Queensland mental health ward. However, the tribunal noted, “Mr Hadad has filed no medical or any other evidence to support these allegations.”
The tribunal document read, “Mr Hadad stated that in a span of two years he literally went from a tycoon to a mental health patient and attempted to take his life, his whole life was in ruins, and he had lost his house after the mortgage went into possession.” The car dealer was found not suitable to hold a licence.
Previously, Hadad had shared a video on YouTube in 2019 flaunting his luxury yacht and holding what appeared to be a novelty gun. Questions regarding Hadad’s presence at the car yard were referred to him by Fair Dinkum Autos, but no response was received.
