Man behind alleged brawl at Fun Tea misses first court appearance

A man who allegedly assaulted a Gouger St bubble tea worker has missed his first court appearance – and his lawyer says he is in quarantine for COVID-19.

A man who allegedly assaulted a Gouger St bubble tea worker has missed his first court appearance – and his lawyer says he is in quarantine for COVID-19.

Guo Lei was scheduled to face the Adelaide Magistrate Court on Friday for his first appearance over allegations arising from an incident at the Fun Tea cafe earlier this year.

However, he did not appear in court and his lawyer asked he be excused from attending.

He said his client had provided a medical certificate, and police prosectors said they could not argue the need for an adjournment.

“This certificate tells me he has not yet received his results from a COVID-19 test and is in quarantine,” the police prosector said.

“On that basis, we do not oppose him being excused from attending.”

Outside court, Australia Eye Media director and Chinese community spokesman Keith Jin said he was disappointed that Guo did not face court.

He said the Chinese community both in Adelaide and overseas had been greatly affected by Guo’s alleged actions, saying it had brought them into disrepute.

“I think, whatever he did, he hurt the whole Chinese community,” he said.

“This has given a very bad reputation to the Chinese people … (we) are not supposed to be like that.”

Fun Tea on Gouger St. Picture: Mark Mooney/7 News.

Guo, 39, of Glen Osmond, has yet to plead to one basic count of assault.

He was arrested after CCTV footage emerged, allegedly showing him slapping and kicking a female employee, 22, at the Fun Tea bubble tea cafe on Gouger St in February.

The footage was viewed more than 100,000 times on social media within 10 days of being posted and drew widespread interest in Australia and China.

Witnesses alleged the incident was sparked by wage theft from a trainee worker, prompting protests outside the business.

A protest against wage theft outside Fun Tea. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes.

Fun Tea director Jason Duan denied the allegations, and said both he and Mr Guo had received death threats.

The name of the alleged victim, meanwhile, was posted on a Chinese language website that calls on employers to boycott workers who “create trouble”.

On Friday, Magistrate Simon Smart adjourned Guo’s case until July.