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A Sydney photographer has been charged after allegedly stealing and pawning camera equipment belonging to one of the victims of the Bondi beach mass shooting that killed 15 people.
The 35-year-old was arrested on Wednesday after police searched his home in Sydney’s western suburbs, where they allegedly recovered a camera, electronic devices, handcuffs, and a small quantity of suspected drugs.
Police claim the stolen equipment belonged to retired police officer and photographer Peter Meagher, who was working at the Hanukkah event when two gunmen opened fire on the crowd, killing him. Authorities said the accused was also working as a photographer at the event. He has been granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear in court next month.
He faces multiple charges, including theft, dealing with stolen property, possessing a prohibited weapon without a permit, and drug-related offences.
Earlier this year, Meagher’s wife, Virginia, appealed on social media for the return of her husband’s missing camera, saying it had been taken from Archer Park by someone not connected to authorities.
In a separate development, two brothers of Bondi shooting hero Ahmed Al Ahmed have been charged over allegations they threatened and attempted to extort money from him.
Ahmed, a Syrian-Australian shop owner, was praised for confronting one of the gunmen during the December 14 attack, disarming him despite being shot several times. Public support after the incident raised more than AU$2.5 million for his recovery.
Police allege Ahmed’s brothers, Hozifa and Sameh Al Ahmed, later demanded $100,000 each from him and made threats when he refused.
The brothers appeared in court on Wednesday charged with using a carriage service to harass or offend. Both have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled to return to court in July.
They have also been issued interim domestic violence orders, preventing them from contacting or approaching Ahmed.
