Main charge dropped against anti-China protester Drew Pavlou

·

The main charge against anti-China protester Drew Pavlou, has been dropped by police, The Sydney Morning Herald has reported.

The 23-year-old was subjected to crowd anger during a protest against the Chinese president in Eastwood last year. The court heard Pavlou attended another protest a week later in the same location and a scuffle broke out.

Police allege that Pavlou was holding a sign translated, in Mandarin, to “Xi Jinping f— your mother.”

At the time, Pavlou was charged with offensive behaviour in public and with refusal to comply with a police direction to move on.

In court on Monday, Pavlou’s lawyer claimed the sign had been wrongly interpreted. Tony Morris KC put forward to an official translator that Pavlou’s sign was referring to a general “curse” against Xi but not a literal message of “fornication.”

The translator said the curse was a popular term of criticism by young people against The Chinese Communist Party.

Police prosecutor John Marsh withdrew the charge of offensive behaviour at the end of the interpreter’s evidence.

The hearing into Pavlou’s alleged refusal to move on will continue this week.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Faith, family and football: The making of Nectarios Triantis

Growing up in a bustling Greek Australian household in Sydney, footballer Nectarios Triantis was never far from a football - or chaos.

Bella Spasis’ big deal: Live music in Victoria set to thrive

Greek-Victorian bar owner, Isabella (Bella) Spasis, hosted a remarkable event at her venue, ‘The Dog’s Bar’ early on Sunday morning, July 6.

GOCNSW Home for the Aged welcomes Consul General and celebrates its donors

The Greek Orthodox Community Home for the Aged played host to the Consul General of Greece in Sydney and some of its major donors.

Father Athanasios Giatsios appointed Orthodox Chaplain at Macquarie University

Father Athanasios Giatsios has been appointed as the new Orthodox Chaplain at Macquarie University. Read more here.

Spiro Pappas honoured at Emirates Business Awards 2025 for Sustainable Innovation

Entrepreneur Spiro Pappas, Founder and CEO of Eureka-Tec, was honoured at the Emirates Business Awards 2025.

You May Also Like

Greece-linked drone triggers distress call from Gaza aid ship

The Madleen, a humanitarian aid ship sailing toward Gaza, issued a distress call after spotting a drone overhead.

Familiar foe Sydney Olympic FC return to haunt Central Coast Mariners

Sydney Olympic FC defeated the Central Coast Mariners with a score of 2-0 at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday, April 7.

Flood crisis: Thousands of Sydney residents ordered to evacuate

A worsening flood crisis in NSW has led to evacuation orders for large parts of north-west Sydney ahead of more heavy rainfall expected today.