Iszacc Bonnici: Alleged Central Coast graffiti vandal charged with 21 offences
An alleged Central Coast graffiti vandal has been charged with spray-painting trains at stations across western Sydney, the Hunter and Gosford before allegedly posting his handiwork on social media, a court has heard.
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Dressed in a green prison-issued jumper an alleged graffiti vandal faced Wyong Local Court after a night behind bars.
Iszacc Bonnici, 19, of Blue Haven, said little during his brief appearance on Wednesday after being charged with 21 offences following a police raid at his address on Tuesday.
During the search, police located sketch pads, spray paint, a mobile phone, three cannabis plants in a hydroponic set up and 16g of dried cannabis.
These items were seized to undergo forensic examination.
His arrest came after the Police Transport Command began an investigation in December last year into the vandalism of trains across Sydney, Central Coast and Hunter Region transport networks.
Investigators charged a 35-year-old Newtown man earlier this month and he remains before the courts.
Following further inquiries, investigators conducted a search at Mr Bonnici’s Blue Haven address and he was taken to Wyong Police Station where he was charged with seven counts each of malicious damage and entering train lines.
He was also charged with five counts of disguising his face with intent to commit an indictable offence along with one count each of possessing and cultivating a prohibited plant.
Charge sheets tendered in court allege the acts of vandalism occurred at train stations at Kingsgrove, Maitland, Campbelltown, Hamilton, Lidcombe, Telarah and Gosford.
The court heard Mr Bonnici then allegedly uploaded these acts of vandalism to social media.
His Legal Aid solicitor said Mr Bonnici lived with his girlfriend Courtney Beamish who would agree to post $500 surety to secure his release.
His solicitor said Mr Bonnici was a young Aboriginal male who would be a “vulnerable person in custody”.
The Police prosecutor “formally opposed bail” but conceded the risks to the community could be mitigated by strict conditions including not entering State Transit property, not be in possession of spray paint or graffiti implements, report weekly to police and abide by a curfew.
The Magistrate granted bail on those conditions and Mr Bonnici was adjourned to reappear on August 12.