Female Sydney nurse charged with Commonwealth offences over anti-Semitic video filmed at hospital
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb says the Commonwealth charges faced by a female Sydney nurse who allegedly made anti-Semitic threats in a video filmed at a hospital were “very serious in nature”.
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Commonwealth charges laid against a Sydney nurse who allegedly made anti-Semitic threats in a video filmed at a hospital and widely shared online are of a very serious nature, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said.
“The Commonwealth charges were placed as while it was alleged the individuals were in NSW, it was widely reported that the influencer they were in the video with was elsewhere overseas with Commonwealth charges the best fit for that situation,” she said.
“The individual will be facing court but in the meantime, she is on strict bail conditions including restricting her from leaving the country and from using social media.”
Commissioner Webb, speaking on Wednesday at a press conference in Hobart where she is assisting local police on a separate matter, said the charges took 13 days to place due to the difficulty of working with individuals overseas.
“This is a complex matter, we are dealing with a global issue,” she said.
“13 days is an incredible amount of time especially when this is a global issue.
“The influencer who we took a statement from speaks Hebrew and so that had to be translated for court proceedings.”
In relation to the male featured in the video, Commissioner Webb said charges would be placed in the future, but did not comment on the man’s employment at another hospital.
“Matters are ongoing for the man, and charges will be laid in the future,” she said.
Strike Force Pearl has arrested 14 people arrested for 76 charges, the Commissioner confirming more people were still being investigated.
Female nurse charged over video
A Sydney nurse has been charged with three Commonwealth offences after allegedly making anti-Semitic threats in a video filmed at a hospital and widely shared online.
Sarah Abu Lebdeh, 26, was arrested on Tuesday evening after attending Sutherland Police Station.
She has been charged with threatening violence to a group, using a carriage service to threaten to kill, and using a carriage service to menace, harass, or offend.
The charges come from an investigation launched on February 12 by Strike Force Pearl detectives into a video allegedly filmed at Bankstown Hospital.
The footage, which circulated on social media, showed two nurses in NSW Health uniforms allegedly making vile threats toward Israeli patients during a video call with Israeli influencer Max Veifer.
The video, recorded on the online chat platform Chatruletka, allegedly shows Abu Lebdeh making threats toward Israeli patients.
She is heard telling Veifer, “One day, your time will come, and you will die the most horrible death.”
When questioned about how she would respond if an Israeli patient arrived at the hospital, she replies, “I won’t treat them; I will kill them.”
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb described the charges as a significant breakthrough.
“Strike Force Pearl detectives must be commended for acting swiftly under enormous pressure and public expectation,” Commissioner Webb said.
“These charges have been laid following a lot of hard work and legal advice, received yesterday from the Commonwealth DPP.”
Police worked with overseas counterparts to obtain a statement from the witness, which was then translated from Hebrew into English to be admissible in court.
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley underlined the severity of the charges laid against Abu Lebdeh under Commonwealth law, noting the potential jail time involved.
“We now know that those charges have been laid today, and they are very serious charges under Commonwealth law,” she said on 2GB.
“The main charge, threatening violence to a group, carries up to seven years in jail. So this is being dealt with appropriately.”
Abu Lebdeh, who has been stood down by NSW Health, was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on March 19.
Her co-worker, Ahmad “Rashad” Nadir, has also been suspended by NSW Health and remains under investigation.
He has not been charged.
Commissioner Webb confirmed Abu Lebdeh is the 14th person to be arrested under Strike Force Pearl, which has now laid 76 charges.
Police are urging anyone with further information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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