Two in court for allegedly spitting on police officers
A man who allegedly spat on police and made a baseless claim about COVID-19 is one of the first people to be hit with a $5000 on-the-spot fine.
Police & Courts
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A man who allegedly spat on police and made a baseless claim about COVID-19 is one of the first people to be hit with a $5000 on-the-spot fine.
In yet another example of the virus being used to abuse police, Abdanoub Samaan allegedly lashed out at police in Ashcroft in Sydney’s west after being quizzed about why he was outside.
According to police, Samaan and a woman were sitting in a car in a carpark on Sadlier Ave, Ashcroft on Friday afternoon.
Two police officers spoke with Samaan and warned him about not complying with coronavirus social distancing restrictions.
The officers asked Samaan to move on when the 24-year-old allegedly became aggressive and threatened them while driving through the car park.
Police allege that when they approached the car to arrest Samaan, he spat at a male sergeant and made a comment regarding coronavirus.
It was later confirmed the man did not have COVID-19.
He was eventually arrested and taken to Liverpool Police Station and charged with not complying with a public health order, intimidate and assault police.
He was also a $5000 on-the-spot fine under Public Health Regulation 2012 act for spitting at police.
The fines were only introduced in NSW on Thursday following a spate of incidents involving people spitting on frontline workers, including nurses, paramedics and police.
Samaan appeared briefly in Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday and was refused bail.
The case was adjourned to April 16 at Liverpool Local Court.
The woman Samaan was with was charged with contravening an AVO and granted bail to appear at Liverpool Local Court on April 21.
In another spitting incident in the Hunter Region on Friday, a 62-year-old man allegedly spat at police as they were arresting his relative.
Police were called to a home on Eucalyptus Crescent in Metford about 6:45pm after reports of a domestic argument.
Two men, aged 36 and 62, spoke with police before officers arrested the younger man.
Police allege while they tried to put the younger man in the paddy wagon, he punched a male senior constable in the head.
The 62-year-old then allegedly pushed, hit and spat at one of the officers, a female constable.
He was arrested too and charged with assault police, resist arrest and issued a $5000 fine for spitting.
The younger man was charged with stalk/intimidate, assault police and resist arrest.
Both men are due to appear in Newcastle Bail Court today.