A embattled builder came to blows with a journalist who confronted him about why construction continued on his wife’s home while hundreds of clients were left with unfinished projects.
Veteran Seven News reporter Geof Parry approached Nicheliving director Ronnie Michel-Elhaj on Saturday morning outside the house in Applecross, Perth.
Parry attempted to ask Mr Michel-Elhaj why construction was going ahead on his wife’s home while up to 200 of his clients were waiting for their projects to be completed.
Some clients signed contracts with the builder four years ago.
But instead of responding, Michel-Elhaj snatched the microphone from the journalist’s hands and grabbed the camera to block its lens.
A cameraman can be heard shouting at Mr Michel-Elhaj to “drop the camera”, to which he responded “don’t film me”.
Michel-Elhaj later claimed Parry was trespassing after the pair fell to the ground behind a chain link fence.
‘I’m not trespassing, come on buddy… I just wanted to ask you some questions. This is ridiculous,’ Parry responded.
Nicheliving director Ronnie Michel-Elhaj has been involved in a fight with a veteran journalist who tried to ask him why hundreds of clients had their projects on pause (pictured).
Michel-Elhaj lashed out at Parry and his cameraman in a statement revealing that he had reported the incident to police and would be pressing charges.
The director posted the statement on LinkedIn. accusing Parry and Seven of having “relentlessly ambushed my family and me for sensational purposes”.
“After I asked Geof not to invade a workplace and film me, he ignored my request and continued filming,” the statement read.
‘The first incident by Geoff and Seven was an ambush on my family at night while walking home, which has caused our family great distress.
‘Geof and Seven have taken things to a whole new level causing personal injuries.
“This is not journalism, it is bullying and absolutely unacceptable disgusting behavior that must be banned.”
Western Australia Premier Roger Cook came to the journalist’s defense and criticized Mr Michel-Elhaj’s response to his questions.
“My message to Nicheliving is: Ronnie, read the room,” Cook said at the launch of a new domestic violence awareness campaign.
‘It’s not right for you to take care of yourself and your home when you have literally hundreds of clients who still can’t access the home you have under contract to build.
“Violence is never okay, but we especially deplore the fact that someone is dedicated to their job, in this case, Geof and his camera crew simply asking questions consistent with their job.”
Michel-Elhaj (pictured) hit out at Parry and his cameraman in a statement revealing he had reported the incident to police and would be pressing charges.
Among the hundreds of customers affected was the state’s opposition leader, Shane Love, who said the company “has been writing on the wall” for many months.
“Many people have left their lives on hold and their letters to the State Government, the State Administrative Court and the Construction Commission have not been responded to with the necessary urgency or empathy,” he said.
“The state government has stood by.”
The Building Services Board rejected Nicheliving’s registration renewal in July, which could have allowed affected customers to claim up to $200,000 from insurance.
However, Nicheliving took the matter to the State Administrative Court, which returned his registration until the next hearing in November.
Parry later appeared on Seven News with a strong message for Michel-Elhaj.
“You owe your clients answers, you owe them a way out of this nightmare, and lastly, you owe them an apology,” he said.
“Or I will continue to come for you in his name.”
Nicheliving has been involved in real estate deals worth over $500 million in WA.
Mr Michel-Elhaj himself was previously recognized as one of the state’s best entrepreneurs at the 40under40 awards.