Man charged after allegedly spray-painting wall of Jo Haylen’s office in Marrickville
A man has been charged after allegedly spray-painting the wall of Transport Minister Jo Haylen’s office in Marrickville twice in less than a week.
NSW
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A man has been charged after allegedly vandalising Transport Minister Jo Haylen’s office twice in less than a week.
Officers were patrolling Marrickville Rd just before 10am on Wednesday, when they saw a man allegedly spray-painting the wall of Ms Haylen’s electorate office.
Police arrested the 58-year-old at the scene and seized the spray can.
The spray-painted phrase said: “Demanding freedom of religion is not divisive or criminal, it’s a duty. God, duty, country.”
Officers allege the same man had also graffitied the office on Saturday, when “anti-Semite” and “honour your oath, separate church and state” were scrawled across the front window.
Following the man’s arrest, he was taken to Newtown Police Station and charged with two counts of destroying or damaging property and two aggravated counts of intentionally marking premises without consent.
He was refused bail to face Newtown Local Court on Thursday.
Ms Haylen’s office has been vandalised a number of times since she became transport minister.
Following yesterday’s arrest, she thanked police for their efforts.
“I want to thank NSW Police for their ongoing work that keeps the public safe,” she said.
“Investigations are ongoing and the outcome will be a matter for police.”
One Marrickville resident expressed disbelief at the brazen nature of the vandalism.
“They came and did it on Saturday, now today all in broad daylight,” the woman said.
“You would think with the church across the road, that’s what would be targeted.”
The woman described the vandalism as “the worst”.
“It’s not good, not good at all,” she said.
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Originally published as Man charged after allegedly spray-painting wall of Jo Haylen’s office in Marrickville
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