Bondi strongman Dimitri Moskovich to sue NSW Police after charges dropped

Police have dropped charges against Bondi strongman Dimitri Moskovich as he prepares to sue for damages. Watch the dramatic video of his arrest.

NSW Police has sensationally dropped Bondi strongman Dimitri Moskovich‘s charges and agreed to pay his $25,000 legal fees, as he prepares to sue for damages.

Swapping his red budgy smugglers for a corporate suit, the colourful beach personality told reporters outside court at the time he couldn’t believe what was happening to him.

Moskovich, 55, was dramatically arrested during the COVID pandemic about 3.30pm on April 19, 2020, with police alleging he contravened Waverley Council ‘closed beach’ signs.

Stills of the North Bondi arrest of Dimitri Moskovich in April 2020.

Moskovich denied the claims, alleging he was unfairly arrested at North Bondi’s Ben Buckler Point, where no signs were erected.

Legally, people were still allowed to exercise outside at this point.

On Friday in the Downing Centre Local Court, police prosecutors dismissed two charges of resisting an officer and failing to comply with a notice in a public place.

They agreed without opposition to pay Moskovich’s $25,000 legal fees plus GST to Hanna Legal.

Dimitri Moskovich alleged he was unfairly arrested by police in April last year.

A NSW Police Spokeswoman said an internal review will probe whether the officers acted appropriately.

“Following a review by senior officers at Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command and the prosecutors, a decision was made to withdraw the charges in court today. An internal investigation is underway into the circumstances of arrest and conduct of involved officers. As the matter is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further,” the spokeswoman said.

A spokeswoman from Police Minister David Elliott’s office said it was inappropriate to comment while the investigation was underway.

Bondi local celebrity Dimitri Moskovich’s dramatic arrest.

The team said they were now preparing to sue NSW Police for unlawful arrest and assault.

Distressing body-worn video footage supplied to The Daily Telegraph shows Russian born Moskovich, with English being his second language, asking the two officers to explain why he was being arrested.

The body-worn camera was only switched on midway through the interaction, during the scuffle.

Bondi icon Dimitri Moskovich in his budgy smugglers. Picture: Kristi Miller

“You assaulted me for nothing … you’re abusing your power,” Mr Moskovich tells two Rose Bay Police Station constables.

He asked them: “Do I have to put my arms behind my back? Can you please tell me why?”

To which an officer replies: “You’re under arrest”.

During the footage, bystanders are seen walking to and from the beach through an open fence. Some stopped to film the struggle.

Moskovich’s lawyer Nick Hanna told reporters outside court his client was a victim.

Dimitri Moskovich (left) speaks to media as he leaves the Downing Centre Court in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/JOEL CARRETT

“We said all along Dimitri was innocent. Today’s results prove just that,” Mr Hanna said.

“He should never have been charged in the first place. His damages are extensive. In the interim however, the bare minimum (NSW Police) could do is issue an apology to Dimitri.”

Moskovich told reporters he had lived for 11 months as an innocent man, with a five-year jail term hanging over his head.

“I couldn’t believe this could happen in Australia. I came to this country, it’s a free country, when it happened to me I thought I was in Russia,” he said.

“I ask the Police Commissioner (Mick Fuller) why I was arrested … not every policeman is a rocket scientist … the Police Commissioner and the Police Minister (David Elliott) should take responsibility for those guys who don’t know what to do.”