Jonathan Sri under investigation for racism slur against cops

The state’s councillor watchdog is investigating a rogue representative’s claims of racism in a fatal police shooting.

Divisive Brisbane city councillor Jonathan Sri is doubling down on accusations Queensland police are racist, amid new revelations he’s being investigated by the state’s councillor conduct watchdog following claims police only fatally shot an armed man who launched at officers due to the colour of his skin.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Mr Sri, who is the Greens councillor for the Gabba ward, is being investigated for suspected misconduct by the Office of Independent Assessors after he took to social media late last year to criticise police for shooting 22-year-old Raghe Abdi dead, when he launched at police with a knife while reportedly shouting, “Allahu Akbar.”

Comments posted by Mr Sri to his Facebook page of more than 23,000 followers suggested Abdi would still be alive if he was white.

Brisbane city councillor Jonathan Sri is flanked by police at a Black Lives Matter protest outside Brisbane Magistrates Court last June.

“No surprises that the victim of the police killing was black. I reckon if he was white he’d probably still be alive,” the post from December 17 said.

He also wrote: “At the time he was found walking along the motorway, there was no suggestion that the man had threatened violence towards anyone else prior to the police being called out, so you have to wonder why police had ‘no choice’ but to kill him.”

Hours after the incident, police located the bodies of elderly couple Maurice and Zoe Antill who are suspected of being murdered by Abdi, accused of being an Islamic State supporter.

While footage from police body-worn cameras of the moment police shot Abdi dead reportedly show him launch at police with a knife.

Queensland Police Service has offered to show Abdi’s family the footage, however it is understood they have declined the offer.

Allegations Mr Sri made inflammatory remarks regarding the police incident have been addressed by the Office of Independent Assessors in an email sighted by The Courier-Mail.

The email, dated late last year, suggests multiple complaints have been made against Mr Sri, and states that further action may be taken if deemed necessary.

“Having considered the information provided, I have formed the view that this complaint involves suspected misconduct and as such, I advise that the OIA will undertake an investigation into this matter,” said the email, written by a senior OIA staffer.

“After investigating (the) complaint, a decision will be made about the conduct of the councillor …

“Due to the number of complaints the OIA has received about this post, it will not be possible to provide regular updates to individual complainants.”

Former John Paul College student Raghe Abdi was shot dead by police on the Logan Motorway.

Cr Sri repeated his suggestion Queensland police were racist.

“Even the Federal Court has acknowledged that QPS has a structural problem with racism – we need to have a mature discussion about how police powers are misused without supporters of the police becoming defensive,” Cr Sri said.

Queensland Police Union vice-president Shane Prior previously slammed Cr Sri’s suggestion QPS was racist as divisive and unfounded.

“He has not retracted the offensive comments or removed them from his official council social media account,” Mr Prior said.

“It is blatantly clear Mr Sri is struggling to conduct himself honourably and will say anything in the desire for headlines.”

Mr Prior also said previously: “As retracting his comments and apologising is the honourable thing to do, I’m not holding my breath for Cr Sri to do it.”

The OIA, who could recommend any councillor acting inappropriately be formally reprimanded, apologise, or be removed from council, would not comment on whether it had received a complaint in relation to Cr Sri, citing procedural fairness.