Australia (Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - A high-profile Muslim lawyer was arrested by police because they thought he was a suspect in a robbery, a Sydney court has heard.
Solicitor Adam Houda appeared in Burwood Local Court on Wednesday charged with failing to comply with a police request to be searched and resisting an officer in the execution of his duty.
Mr Houda, 35, was walking with his brother Bassam Houda and his friend Mohammed Hawa on Woods Road, Yagoona, in southwest Sydney in September when they were stopped by police, the court heard.
The trio was confronted by several officers and told they were suspects in a robbery.
Senior Constable Phillip Taylor told the court on Wednesday that police believed two of the men might have had a knife.
"We had two possible offenders who possibly had a knife," he told the hearing.
"I think at some stage there was seven police (at the scene)."
When questioned by Mr Houda's lawyer, Phil Bolton, Sen Const Taylor said he did not search Mr Houda for a knife despite having him arrested and put in a paddy wagon.
He said only his bum bag was searched.
Sen Const Taylor also denied confiscating the men's mobile phones to stop them taking photos and video of the police whom they had accused of assaulting them at the scene.
However, he said he did notice they were using their phones to either take photos, video or audio of police.
"I actually got concerned that they had their phone and they were calling other people."
The hearing, before Magistrate Michael Connell, was continues.
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Solicitor Adam Houda appeared in Burwood Local Court on Wednesday charged with failing to comply with a police request to be searched and resisting an officer in the execution of his duty.
Mr Houda, 35, was walking with his brother Bassam Houda and his friend Mohammed Hawa on Woods Road, Yagoona, in southwest Sydney in September when they were stopped by police, the court heard.
The trio was confronted by several officers and told they were suspects in a robbery.
Senior Constable Phillip Taylor told the court on Wednesday that police believed two of the men might have had a knife.
"We had two possible offenders who possibly had a knife," he told the hearing.
"I think at some stage there was seven police (at the scene)."
When questioned by Mr Houda's lawyer, Phil Bolton, Sen Const Taylor said he did not search Mr Houda for a knife despite having him arrested and put in a paddy wagon.
He said only his bum bag was searched.
Sen Const Taylor also denied confiscating the men's mobile phones to stop them taking photos and video of the police whom they had accused of assaulting them at the scene.
However, he said he did notice they were using their phones to either take photos, video or audio of police.
"I actually got concerned that they had their phone and they were calling other people."
The hearing, before Magistrate Michael Connell, was continues.
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