Young woman banned from two-kilometre radius of Sydney CBD over ‘fine-only’ offence

Young woman banned from two-kilometre radius of Sydney CBD over ‘fine-only’ offence
A University of NSW pupil activist missed Mardi Gras due to strict bail situations imposed on a fine-only offence, a court docket has heard.

Cherish Kuehlmann was prohibited from coming into inside two kilometres of Sydney’s Town Hall following a midnight arrest by NSW Police in entrance of her Eastlakes residence in February.

The 23-year-old was charged with aggravated coming into of closed lands, that carries a most $5500 positive, following a student-organised housing disaster rally.

Mardi Gras parade 2023
A lady argued her fine-only offence was not sufficient to ban her from a central space of Sydney after lacking Mardi Gras. (Nine)

Defence lawyer Sidnie Sarang informed the Downing Centre Local Court the bail situations are onerous for a positive solely offence.

“It hampers her entire livelihood,” Sarang mentioned on

“She’s already missed the Mardi Gras parade. I am already worried about what she will miss out on this year.”

The bail situations have been in place for 2 weeks, Kuehlmann mentioned exterior court docket.

Magistrate Clare Farnan disbursed together with her bail on Wednesday.

“I would not consider a fine-only offence to be a serious offence,” the Justice of the Peace mentioned.

Kuehlmann had no prison historical past and due to this fact, no historical past of breaching bail, Farnan added.

“She can continue to engage with activism, which is her democratic right,” she mentioned.

Kuehlmann, a UNSW pupil council training officer, was the one individual to be arrested on the rally.

University college students occupied the lobby of the Martin Place Commonwealth Bank and the curtilage of the Reserve Bank of Australia.

Police approached Kuehlmann and a University of Sydney training officer asking for his or her private particulars.

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Sydney Mardi Gras forty fifth anniversary parade

Kuehlmann mentioned exterior court docket that she was singled out as a result of she was main chants and audio system on the megaphone.

“NSW Police wanted to set the precedent that they can restrict students from attending and organising further protests,” Kuehlmann informed reporters.

“They’re always trying to wind our rights back.”

Contingencies from completely different Sydney pupil unions protested exterior Downing Centre whereas Kuehlmann was in her bail listening to.

An on-line petition in help of her garnered over 1000 signatures, Kuehlmann mentioned.

“I’m glad that the magistrate can say that it actually was intended to limit my right to protest and my freedom of political expression,” she mentioned.

“Not very often is there justice in the justice system but today was a victory.”

The matter will return to court docket on October 25.

Farnan famous that Kuehlmann intends to plead not responsible.

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Source: www.9news.com.au