Rodney Stevens
Lismore ‘identity’ Big Rob has faced court after being charged with breaching an apprehended personal violence order taken out by mayor Isaac Smith.
Mr Rob, formerly known as Robert Bou-Hamdan, represented himself at Lismore Local Court on Monday where he pleaded not guilty.
Cr Smith took out the apprehended personal violence order APVO against Mr Rob last month, as he and his family feared for their safety due to posts and videos Mr Rob put on Facebook.
Mr Rob was ordered not to post anything on Facebook about Cr Smith or his family as part of the APVO.
The court heard Cr Smith complained to police on Saturday morning that Mr Rob had breached the APVO.
‘He complained about comments made about his actions as mayor during the flooding,’ Mr Rob said.
‘I don’t know if your honour is aware, but I operate a massive media business, bigger than the mainstream media your honour is aware of, and everyone was asking where is the mayor.’
Mr Rob was arrested by police on Saturday and charged over the alleged breach.
‘I have not breached your orders, your very clear and lengthy orders,’ Mr Rob told Magistrate David Heilpern.
‘I spent sixteen and a half hours locked up on this already.’
After spending time in custody on Saturday, Mr Rob was granted strict conditional bail. He applied to the court on Monday to vary those bail conditions.
‘In my view, the restrictions that have been placed on the bail by the registrar are appropriate,’ Mr Heilpern said in rejecting Mr Rob’s application to vary bail.
Then Mr Rob made a submission to the court that Mr Heilpern was biased, and the 12 matters he currently had before the court wouldn’t be treated fairly.
‘I want to make a submission to get you off my matters,’ he said.
‘Your honour’s bias is extreme…everyone here can see that.’
‘You are the most biased magistrate in the country.’
‘You’re a joke.’
‘Why don’t you find me guilty like you did last Monday when I walked out?’
On Monday March 3, Mr Rob appeared in Lismore Local Court facing charges of assault, intimidation and using a carriage service to menace/harass/offend.
When Mr Rob walked from the court before Mr Heilpern had finished with his matters he was found guilty on each charge.
Police then informed Mr Rob he had been found guilty and he lodged a section 4 annulment application which will be heard on April 24.
Mr Heilpern ordered the brief of evidence on the breach of APVO charge to be served on Mr Rob by May 22.
He adjourned Mr Rob’s matters until June 5, for reply to the brief of evidence.
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