Anti-vaxxer accidentally live streams her own arrest
An outspoken anti-lockdown campaigner has spent the night in police custody after accidentally livestreaming her own arrest.
Anti-vaxxer Monica Smit — who founded the Reignite Democracy Australia (RDA) movement — was pulled over while driving in Melbourne on Tuesday.
In the video, which has been widely shared on social media, Ms Smit turns the camera on once she was pulled over, telling viewers she thinks she's being pulled over for leaving her 5km radius.
The 31-year-old then claims to film the interaction "just in case".
"I’ve just been pulled over by the cops, it’s probably because I’m outside my 5km," she said in the video.
“But we will see what happens. Just thought I would put the livestream on just in case.”
Arrested for alleged incitement
An officer then approaches her car, telling her: “We’re just from the Springvale Police Station. At the moment, we need to have a chat with you about a matter of incitement. So I need to place you under arrest.”
Ms Smit then asked police if they were "following" her after they knew her name without asking for ID.
The police officer continues telling her she’s being placed under arrest following an investigation into “incitement” and tells her that anything she says may be used in court.
“No comment,” Ms Smit responds, before telling her supporters to share the video.
She is then asked to step out of the car, which is where the video ends.
Charged with two counts of incitement
A Victoria Police spokesperson told 7News a woman was charged for allegedly encouraging people to breach Victoria's Covid restrictions.
“The woman was arrested after the car she was travelling in was intercepted in Brighton about 1.20pm on Tuesday 31 August.
“Police subsequently executed search warrants at residences in Pakenham and Hampton.
“The woman has since been charged with two counts of incitement and three counts of breaching the Chief Health Officer’s Directions and remanded to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 1 September."
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According to an update made by Ms Smith's parents on the Reignite Democracy Australia Facebook page, she was denied bail and spent Tuesday night in custody.
Ms Smit founded the RDA in 2020 during Victoria's second wave of Covid.
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