Sydney restaurateur arrested after staff's alleged Covid breach
A prominent NSW restaurateur will face court next month after police were called to an alleged public health order breach in Sydney's west.
Co-founder of the Rashays dining empire Rami Ykmour was arrested by NSW Police on Thursday at the business's Chester Hill headquarters following a tip-off staff were not wearing face masks.
His arrest comes as NSW Police announced a ramped-up police presence in southwest Sydney to crack down on breaches of Covid-19 restrictions.
A NSW Police spokesperson said an officer discovered two employees without face masks at the premises.
"The owner of the business, a 46-year-old man, allegedly became aggressive towards the officer and refused to provide his details," the spokesperson said.
Video of the incident uploaded to Rashays Facebook page shows Ykmour remonstrating with the officer before a large police contingent arrives.
Amid heated discussions, Ykmour is taken outside and arrested.
Police say he was taken to Parramatta Police Station and was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for hindering police.
He is due to appear before Parramatta Local Court on August 18.
The two staff members identified were issued $200 infringements for fail to comply with face covering direction.
Ykmour was seen wearing a face mask during the incident but could be seen without his mask as he is moved into a police van.
Addressing the incident on Friday, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said there was no excuse for not complying to the rules.
"If you are not doing the right thing, please know that we will have to have the law come down on you, because the simple fact is, people doing the wrong thing means that all of us suffer," she said.
As part of restrictions implemented following the emergence of the Delta variant in the community, NSW residents must wear face masks in non-residential premises across the state.
Sydney and surrounding areas are currently placed in lockdown which will run to at least July 19. The state recorded 44 locally acquired cases on Friday – its highest daily total since the outbreak began on June 16.
The restaurant chain Rashays, which prides itself on affordable, casual dining, has 28 locations across NSW, the ACT and Queensland.
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