Redbank Plains’ Lemonde Sabanga faces Ipswich Court accused of assaulting bus driver in Springfield

An Ipswich man charged with assaulting a local bus driver will be released back into the community today, despite police accusing him of more “violent and threatening” behaviour while in lockup.

An Ipswich man has been arrested and charged with assault after allegedly attacking a local bus driver. File picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

An Ipswich man charged with assaulting a local bus driver was granted bail today, after acting on his best behaviour in court and even wishing the magistrate a “Merry Christmas”.

Police opposed his bail, accusing him of “violent and threatening” behaviour towards an officer while on remand at the watch-house just a day prior.

Lemonde Sabanga, 22, stands charged with offences including assault occasioning bodily harm alleged to have occurred at Springfield Central on December 18.

Police will allege an argument broke out between the bus driver and Mr Sabanga on Trackstar Drive between 5.10pm and 5.35pm.

It is alleged Mr Sabanga approached the bus and started yelling at the driver before banging on the vehicle and later assaulting the driver.

Mr Sabanga made an application for bail in Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on December 20, after his matter was adjourned the previous day for a bail address check.

Police prosecutor Nanette Green told the court police had reviewed CCTV footage of the alleged incident since yesterday.

It was previously alleged Mr Sabanga “dragged” the driver out of the bus before assaulting him.

But Senior Constable Green told the court the CCTV indicated the driver had gotten out himself, and then Mr Sabanga “grabbed” him.

She said a police officer had spoken with Mr Sabanga at the watch-house yesterday afternoon, December 19.

She said Mr Sabanga had been “quite violent and threatening” and told the officer to “watch out when (they’re) driving home”.

“He said ‘life is karma and karma is my name’,” she said.

“The door was closed and the defendant continued to shout abuse through the door.”

Defence lawyer Abbey Huckstep said her client had not been able to secure a bail address since yesterday, but that he would enquire with the Brisbane Youth Service – who he already attended a psychologist with.

She submitted that bail could be granted even without a bail address if strict conditions were imposed.

Senior Constable Green said if the magistrate were considering granting Mr Sabanga’s bail, that the prosecution would ask for him to wear an ankle monitor.

Magistrate Kathleen Payne granted Mr Sabanga’s bail under strict conditions that he report three days a week, abstain from drinking alcohol, submit to breath testing, and that he not attend the Orion Shopping Centre or contact the bus driver.

She chose not to impose any electronic monitoring conditions.

The matter was adjourned to January 29.

Mr Sabanga thanked Ms Payne and told her: “Have a safe Christmas and a Happy New Year”.

Ipswich Courthouse. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

Previously, Mr Sabanga told Ipswich Magistrates Court on Tuesday, December 19, that he only “pushed” the driver after drinking more than a litre of alcohol that day.

Police Prosecutor Sergeant Jo Colston said Mr Sabanga’s interstate criminal history included previous acts of violence, including assault occasioning bodily harm and robberies.

“The evidence against the defendant is particularly strong,” Sergeant Colston said.

“Members of the public intervened, otherwise the results for that bus driver may have been graver.”

Mr Sabanga, who represented himself in court, said he had drunk a one-litre bottle of “JD” (Jack Daniels whiskey) and “six cans of 12 per centres” before the alleged incident.

He said he was struggling with the loss of a close friend and was still grieving.

Magistrate Kathleen Payne advised Mr Sabanga that he might wish to speak with a lawyer before saying much more about the incident.

But Mr Sabanga said he had “nothing to hide”.

He said he had gotten onto the wrong bus, hopped off, then tried to get on to the right bus but the doors were already closed.

“I’ve gone ‘please bus driver let me in’ and he’s gone ‘no, no no,” Mr Sabanga said.

“I did not punch him. I did not assault him. I pushed him.”

Mr Sabanga told the court he was born in the Congo but moved to Australia when he was six.

He said he had used drugs previously, but got off them after regretting turning down a scholarship to play rugby in Europe.

Mr Sabanga told the court his cousin was currently in prison for murder but he did not want to end up anything like him.

“I’m not a threat to the community, your honour … I’m nothing like my cousin,” he said.

He was seeing a psychologist and working on his anger management.

Mr Sabanga offered multiple potential bail addresses, including his mother’s place in Redbank Plains, before saying he did not want to impose any extra stress on her and that he would prefer somewhere else.

Ms Payne said she was considering granting Mr Sabanga bail.

She adjourned the matter to tomorrow, December 20, so that police could conduct bail address checks.

Originally published as Redbank Plains’ Lemonde Sabanga faces Ipswich Court accused of assaulting bus driver in Springfield