Allan Omer: Bellevue Hill landscaper fined for freedom protest attendance

A lockdown protester and out-of-work landscaper says he was trying save a rainbow lorikeet from being trampled just moments before he was arrested and thrown to the ground by police.

An eastern suburbs landscaper who lost his income due to the Sydney Covid-19 lockdown says he tried to save a rainbow lorikeet at the anti-lockdown protest just moments before his was arrested and charged by police.

Allan Omer, 52, faced Downing Centre Local Court two days after he attended the ill-fated Rally for Freedom in Sydney’s CBD where he was charged with resisting an officer, failing to comply with police directions and defying Covid-19 public health orders.

Allan Omer was charged over his involvement in the Sydney lockdown protest on the weekend. Picture: Richard Dobson

The Bellevue Hill landscaper pleaded guilty to all three charges immediately to have the matter dealt with by Magistrate Michael Barko.

His solicitor Robert Kaufmann told the court Omer believed he was exercising his democratic right to protest in attending the rally on Saturday.

“Due to the recent lockdown he finds himself unable to work,” Mr Kaufmann told the court.

“That’s led to some frustration, and my client says he’s been feeling frustration because of the restrictions – he believes the government has not been acting in the right way and that it’s unfair to him and others.”

Omer was charged with resisting police after he struggled against police who he said were pushing his head into the ground as they arrested him.

However, Omer maintains he was not involved in any violence at the protest – and in fact took steps to save a bird when a scuffle broke out.

Allan Omer was fined and sentenced to a conditional release order for his various offences. Picture: Richard Dobson

“He saw a rainbow lorikeet being trampled on the ground and made his way over to a tree to try and protect it from further injury,” Mr Kaufmann said.

“Police saw him helping the bird, he then continued to join the group and he heard over a bull horn a general move on direction.”

Mr Barko convicted Omer for defying Covid-19 public health orders and fined him $550.

Omer was also convicted and fined $110 for failing to comply with police orders, and sentenced to a 12-month conditional release order without conviction for resisting police during his arrest.

“Every day the community waits with bated breath for 11am to find out how bad things are going,” Mr Barko told Omer.

“They are only getting worse, and the public health orders are for the protection of the public – not just individuals.”

Allan Omer leaving the Downing Centre. Picture: Richard Dobson

Mr Barko said he expected the court would be “inundated” with matters of this kind in the coming days and weeks.

Mr Kaufmann said Omer learned about the protest on social media and decided to attend as he believed it was lawful.

“He accepts the fact that if it was not, he made no inquiries to investigate it for himself,” Mr Kaufmann said.

“He was also under the belief he was not required to wear a face mask when he was outside.”

Outside court Omer told media he believed he was exercising his “democratic right to freedom” and his “lack of confidence in the government and the way they are treating the matter of the Covid”.

Two other men faced court today, where their matters were adjourned for a later mention.

Ashfield man Andrew Layland, 27, was charged with failing to wear a face mask and resisting an officer in the execution of their duty.

Eastgardens man Yoel Silvestre, 30, was charged with resisting an officer and failing to comply with Covid-19 public health directions.

Neither man entered a plea to their charges.