A high-profile restaurant chain owner has been dramatically arrested and charged as police launch a massive crackdown in southwest Sydney to enforce Covid lockdown compliance.
More than 100 extra officers started patrol on Friday against residents living in the Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield and Liverpool local government areas on Friday.
It was announced yesterday that the extra show of force was necessary to 'ensure compliance' with lockdown restrictions as the city faces troubling Covid-19 transmission rates.
Members of the public have already been arrested with officers spotted escorting a handcuffed man outside of a shopping centre in Fairfield.
Dramatic footage has also emerged of a co-founder of popular Rashays being arrested and two of his staff fined for not wearing face masks at the head office.
The arrest was captured on camera as it unfolded at the Rashays office on Ferngrove Place at Chester Hill, in south-west Sydney, at 3.50pm on Thursday.
Dramatic footage has also emerged of a co-founder of popular Rashays being arrested and two of his staff fined for not wearing face masks at the head office
Police allege two staff members were not wearing face masks and that co-founder Rami Ykmour, 46, became aggressive and refused to provide his details
Police allege two staff members were not wearing face masks and that co-founder Rami Ykmour, 46, became aggressive and refused to provide his details.
Footage uploaded to Facebook shows Mr Ykmour speaking calmly with an officer at the front of the office after police were tipped off about a Covid-19 health order breach by an anonymous caller.
The officer points to several staff at reception he can see who are not wearing face masks.
Mr Ykmour suggests the workers might have been eating lunch or blowing their nose.
He claims the staff members have since put on their face masks and insists there is no longer an issue.
'I'm here to follow the law,' Mr Ykmour says to the officer.
'You've just got to understand that these people here, are here supporting people who are unemployed. That's what we're doing, during a pandemic.'
The argument escalates as Mr Ykmour asks the police officer to wait outside.
He refuses and insists on waiting in the lobby as 'an offence has been committed'.
Moments later he is joined by several more police officers who
