Alleged Hells Angels bikie Mustafa Hafizi fails to have ‘embarrassing’ arrest video kept secret

Caught pants down and accused of an “Oscar-worthy performance” – it’s the video Mustafa Hafizi and his lawyers don’t want you to see. Warning: Explicit language.

In the big, bad world of Sydney’s criminal underbelly, it’s not a good look to be caught with your pants down, much less to be accused of taking a dive, then “weeping” in the back of a police paddy wagon.

It’s even worse when it’s all caught on camera.

Mustafa Hafizi, alleged to be a prominent member of the Hells Angels Chinatown chapter and a close associate of the Alameddine crime family, did all that and more when police arrested him at his Greystanes home on the evening of December 29 last year over an assault on his wife.

The entire encounter between Hafizi and the two arresting officers was caught on a police body-worn camera and aired during his court hearing last month.

Hafizi’s lawyers desperately fought to keep the video a secret, claiming to make it public would be highly embarrassing for their client, however The Daily Telegraph successfully argued for its release under the principles of open justice.

A still image from a video of Mustafa Hafizi, pictured moments before he falls down the stairs at the front of his Greystanes home. He says he was pushed by the police, but a magistrate found otherwise. Picture: NSW Police

In making the decision, Magistrate Rodney Brender rejected defence suggestions that Hafizi might be put in danger if the video became public, and that the Telegraph had a “vendetta” against Hafizi.

“The accused knew he was being filmed, he said he was also filming … open justice dictates the video be made available.”

Mr Hafizi, alleged to be a feared Hells Angels bikie, was arrested over an assault on his wife.

His lawyers argued the release of the arrest vision would be embarrassing for their client.

A police statement tendered to the court said Hafizi was dressed only in a singlet and underwear when officers put him in handcuffs and was “argumentative” when told of the charge against him.

The police officer said he went into Hafizi’s house at his request and retrieved some shorts from the bathroom, which he then helped Hafizi put on.

The Telegraph has agreed not to publish any video of Hafizi before his shorts are put on.

The video footage then shows the second officer walk Hafizi to the steps at the front of the house, where he is seen to put one hand on Hafizi’s neck and a second on the handcuffs to guide him down the steps.

The police officer places a hand on the back of Hafizi’s neck to guide him down the stairs. Hafizi claims he was pushed to the ground by the officer. Picture: NSW Police

Hafizi can be heard saying “don’t f—king assault me, I’ll sue you”, before appearing to fall as he nears the bottom step.

He then begins screaming and collapses onto his knees, saying “ah, ah, my shoulder, my f—king shoulder” as he writhes around in apparent pain.

He eventually rolls over onto his back before delivering an abusive tirade at the officer, telling him “you f—ked my shoulder” and threatening to sue him.

“You’re getting f—ked, all my cameras are recording, pushing me down the stairs like I’m a f—king criminal,” Hafizi continues.

The officer denies pushing Hafizi and accuses him of falling deliberately in what he describes as an “Oscar-worthy” performance by the 34-year-old.

One of the officers described Hafizi’s ‘performance’ as ‘Oscar-worthy’. Picture: NSW Police

Meanwhile, Hafizi refuses to move and repeatedly demands an ambulance be called as he continues to abuse the officers.

“I’ve got anxiety and my f—king shoulder’s f—ked,” he can be heard saying at one stage.

“You didn’t let me wipe my arse … I’m not relaxing, I’ve got anxiety, he f—king threw me down the stairs like a f—king bag of shit … I’m not sitting up, I’ve got shit in my f—king arse”.

When the police paddy wagon eventually arrives to transport Hafizi, he refuses to walk to it, prompting police to drag him by the arms to the vehicle.

He begins weeping when placed inside the caged truck, continually telling officers he can’t move because his shoulder is too sore.

However, in a statement tendered to the court, one of the officers said he saw Hafizi put weight on that shoulder inside the vehicle.

Officers take hold of Hafizi under the arms to drag him to the waiting police vehicle after he refused to walk to the vehicle. Picture: NSW Police

Hafizi was taken to Parramatta Police Station and charged with assaulting his wife and resisting arrest.

Hafizi pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife but not guilty to the resist charge, claiming he had been acting in self-defence.

However, Magistrate Brender found Hafizi guilty of the charge after hearing evidence from the officers involved and watching the body-worn vision.

“I reject the suggestion that the police deliberately pushed him down stairs, it’s not supported by the evidence,” Magistrate Brender said.

“It was either an accidental trip or a deliberately staged fall, I do not need to decide which.”

He said he could not accept Hafizi’s argument of self-defence and convicted him before imposing a $500 fine and a 12-month community correction order.

FULL VIDEO (edited only to comply with court orders):