Nurses accused of threatening patients face court
Sarah Abu Lebdeh and Ahmad Rashad Nadir were stood down from Bankstown Hospital in February following an investigation by Strike Force Pearl
Two Sydney nurses charged over allegedly threatening Israeli patients in an online video made their first court appearance on Wednesday amid dramatic scenes at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court, Sky News reported.
Sarah Abu Lebdeh, 26, and Ahmad Rashad Nadir, 27, who were stood down from Bankstown Hospital in February, are currently on conditional bail following an investigation by police antisemitism taskforce, Strike Force Pearl.
According to Sky News, Ms Lebdeh arrived accompanied by approximately 10 supporters, including eight men in black hoodies, while Mr Nadir appeared only with his lawyer, Zemarai Khatiz.
During the brief hearing, prosecutors requested an eight-week adjournment. The magistrate set the next court date for May 13, with both defendants excused from attending.
Outside court, Khatiz announced his client would contest the charges on legal grounds.
“My client will be pleading not guilty to the charges. The video that was captured and recorded was done without the consent of my client, without his knowledge. And we’ll argue for that to be excluded,” Mr Khatiz told reporters.
Ms Lebdeh made no comment as she was rushed from the courthouse, shielded by her entourage before departing in a black car.
The controversy erupted after Israeli content creator Max Veifer shared a video showing the nurses, in NSW Health uniforms, making threatening comments during an online chat. Lebdeh allegedly boasted about refusing to treat Israeli patients and threatened to kill them, while Mr Nadir allegedly claimed he had sent Israeli patients to “Jahannam” (hell in Arabic).
Lebdeh faces three Commonwealth charges including threatening violence to a group, using a carriage service to threaten to kill and using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend. Nadir is charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend, plus possession of a prohibited drug allegedly found in his hospital locker.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of NSW has suspended both nurses’ registrations, banning them from practising anywhere in Australia.
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