NSW: Multicultural "role model" cried as she was arrested: court

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2009
NSW: Multicultural "role model" cried as she was arrested: court

SYDNEY, April 1 AAP - A former NSW Young Australian of the Year sobbed at her arrest
for supplying cocaine, saying "I am supposed to be a role model", a Sydney court has been
told.

Giving evidence in the NSW District Court, Inspector Steven Patton contradicted Iktimal
Hage-Ali's testimony that she did not use those words.

The 24-year-old is suing the state of NSW, claiming she was wrongfully arrested and
detained in Sydney on November 6, 2006.

The arrest occurred eight days before Ms Hage-Ali, a member of former prime minister
John Howard's Muslim Community Reference Group, was named NSW Young Australian of the
Year, a title she later relinquished.

She was released without charge, hours after her arrest, having told police she was
a cocaine user but had never supplied the drug.

Ms Hage-Ali, who gave evidence last December, was not present in court on Wednesday
for her case, which resumed earlier this week.

Under questioning from Peter Boder QC, for the state of NSW, Insp Patton said he had
spoken to Ms Hage-Ali at the police station after her arrest.

"She was crying, she also said, `I'm supposed to be a role model, I'm a finalist in
the NSW Young Australian of the Year'," he said.

"As she was saying this she was sobbing, and said, `I spoke at your multicultural day,
how embarrassing, you must have all been laughing'."

Ms Hage-Ali has denied making those statements.

Insp Patton said that before her arrest he believed police had evidence that showed
she was a "very low level" supplier.

"Was she a person who ought to have been arrested?" Mr Boder asked.

Insp Patton replied, "Yes", but added that after her interview he had found her to
be credible when she said she had not supplied cocaine and only bought the drug for her
own use.

The hearing is continuing before Judge Michael Elkaim.

AAP mss/pbc/wjf/ldj/apm

KEYWORD: HAGEALI

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