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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
Hannah Neale

Man accused of striking bus driver with metre-long sound bar speaker

A man is accused of becoming aggressive and striking a bus driver with a metre-long sound bar speaker after being asked to leave the vehicle.

Alusine Sankoh, 32, faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday, after allegedly assaulting the driver the day before.

He is yet to enter pleas to three counts of common assault, and one count each of possessing an offensive weapon, behaving in an offensive manner on a bus, and obstructing a bus employee.

Police allege Sankoh boarded a bus bound for the Woden Bus Interchange in the Tuggeranong area about 1.30pm on Wednesday.

The driver is said to have become suspicious he was drinking alcohol and stopped the bus a short time later to speak with the man.

Police claim Sankoh became aggressive and refused the driver's directions to leave.

He allegedly produced a sound bar speaker, approximately a metre long, and threatened her with it.

The 32-year-old eventually left the bus after allegedly kicking the driver's cabin door into her leg and striking her with the sound bar.

Alusine Sankoh leaves court on Thursday. Picture by Hannah Neale

The driver contacted police who found and arrested Sankoh nearby.

On Thursday, a prosecutor did not oppose bail but read out concerns from Transport Canberra.

"Police believe if the defendant were to be granted bail he would continue to pose a risk," they said.

"[Sankoh has] demonstrated that he has no regard for the rules."

Magistrate James Lawton granted Sankoh bail and adjourned the case to next month.

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