Man denies assault in Liberal Party kebab shop brawl

A FOOTBALL coach with a history of violence has denied assaulting a female police officer when a “racially and gender bias motivated” brawl broke out during a Liberal Party meeting at a Sydney kebab shop.

POLICE believe a brawl that broke out during a Liberal Party meeting at a Sydney kebab shop may have been sparked by racial and gender bias.

Mohammed Reda has denied pushing a female police officer when the Bayside branch meeting at Naji’s Charcoal Chicken & Kebabs in Arncliffe descended into chaos in June.

The football coach, who has a history of violence, is also accused of resisting arrest from Sergeant Joanne Dawson and assaulting Remone Gorgio.

Police were called to Naji's Cafe in Arncliffe after the alleged brawl broke out.

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The 28-year-old pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company, assault police and resist arrest when he appeared at Sutherland Local Court today.

Police had been investigating whether the clash was fuelled by religious and factional divides within the party but court documents reveal other alleged tensions.

“This offence may have been racially and gender bias-motivated,” Sergeant Gerard Moloney wrote in a police bail decision dated June 26.

Mohammed Reda at Sutherland Local Court today.

“CCTV and direct police evidence supports these allegations.”

Video footage has emerged of people fighting and yelling while a mother-of-three was allegedly pushed to the ground during the altercation, which erupted at Liberal councillor Michael Nagi’s cafe just before 7pm on June 18.

Witness shows his smashed phone after the alleged brawl.

A 37-year-old man was hospitalised with facial injuries after the scuffle spilled out onto busy Firth Street.

Reda is forbidden from contacting his alleged victim under his bail conditions and is banned from going within 100 meters of Naji’s chicken shop.

Sgt Moloney said the Arncliffe man, who lives with his partner and has one dependent, “does have a history of violence”, referring to 2012 convictions for being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence and affray.

An alleged victim of a bashing at Arncliffe.

Mohammed Reda pleaded not guilty.

The self-employed man makes $1500 per week and is on bail despite police fears he may interfere with witnesses and endanger victims.

“A number of people remain at large for this offence and police believe the accused will attempt to contact them,” Sgt Moloney wrote.

Reda must report thrice weekly to St George police station but the Arncliffe Aurora Football Club coach’s night curfew was lifted on Tuesday.

Liberal Party member Rami Abdallah, who is well known in political and business circles in southeast Sydney, was also charged with assault and is due back in court on August 14.

Around 20 members had gathered at the back of the cafe to vote on allowing a Young Liberals branch to join the Bayside section when a second group were allegedly denied entry and violence flared up.

Witnesses from each side have claimed their opponents hurled racial slurs during the fight.

Many of the attendees fled the scene as officers arrived and the NSW Liberal Party has threatened to discipline those responsible.

There is no suggestion Mr Nagi engaged in any inappropriate behaviour and he’s denied the confrontation was charged by animosity between Muslims and Coptic Christians, or that any members were refused entry.

Reda is expected back in court on September 18.