Abdul Rahman Zreika to plead not guilty to breaking Covid rules in Merrylands, Granville

A western Sydney teen faced police twice in one night but it was his second encounter that led to his arrest after he allegedly failed to obey Covid rules.

Teenager Abdul Rahman Zreika, who was arrested after allegedly breaching Covid rules twice in three hours, will plead not guilty to the charges, a court has heard.

Raptor Squad officers were patrolling Fairmount St, Merrylands, on September 23 when they allegedly observed two men in a Toyota Corolla suddenly leave as police approached.

They stopped the car and spoke with two men, aged 30 and 19, who police allege did not have a reasonable excuse for leaving their home or travelling in the same car.

Under the lockdown rules, police allege the pair did not have a reasonable excuse for leaving their homes, such as travelling for work, buying food or for medical appointments.

During a subsequent search of the men and the car, police seized prescription drugs.

The 30-year-old passenger was arrested and taken to taken to Granville police station, where he was charged possessing a prescribed restricted substance, breach of bail and not complying with noticed direction regarding Covid-19.

Abdul Zreika was told to move on after police spoke to him and another man at Fairmount St, Merrylands. Picture: Google Maps

The man was refused bail and remains before the courts.

Mr Zreika was issued with two traffic infringements for minor car defects and inquiries into further public health order breaches are ongoing.

But that was not the last time he saw police that night.

About 11pm, Cumberland police stopped his car at Clyde St, Granville, for a random breath test.

Further inquiries revealed the 19-year-old driver had been directed by Raptor Squad officers to return to his Merrylands home just three hours before.

He was arrested and taken to Parramatta police station, where he was charged with not complying with noticed direction regarding Covid-19.

Abdul Zreika was arrested at Clyde St, Granville. Picture: Google Maps

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court.

Mr Zreika was excused from appearing at court in person on Wednesday, when the court heard he planned to plead not guilty.

The matter will return to the same court on November 17.

Several other arrests were carried out on September 23 by Raptor Squad officers, including at Guildford after they allegedly saw a man leaning in the passenger window of a Volkswagen SUV talking with another man – neither of whom were wearing masks – on Woodstock St, Guildford, about 1pm.

As police approached, they alleged the man moved away from the 4WD and attempted to walk on to a nearby property.

The men were arrested and taken to Granville police station after not having a reasonable excuse to leave their homes.

The 28-year-old Guildford man was charged with not complying with noticed direction regarding Covid-19 and failing to comply with carry face covering directive.

The 46-year-old Westmead man was charged with not complying with noticed direction regarding Covid-19.

They are due to appear at Fairfield Court on Tuesday, October 26.