Friends of a man who helped organise a Perth New Year's Eve party during COVID-19 restrictions have enabled him to walk free from court, after an internet banking delay threatened to put him behind bars.
Farooq Latief helped organise and sell tickets to the 2021 New Year's Eve party at George Bar in Perth's CBD while the city was under strict COVID-19 mandates.
People were seen standing up and dancing during the event, without wearing masks.
Latief had pleaded not guilty to two counts of failing to comply with a direction and was found guilty after a trial.
In court this afternoon he was fined $6,000 but could not be released from police custody because of a delay in transferring the money via internet banking.
He initially paid the $6,000 plus court costs of $518 via BPAY on his phone while he was still in the courtroom.
But he had to remain in custody because the court registry said the funds would take several days to clear.
The case had to be recalled later this afternoon, when two of Latief's friends agreed to pay the fine immediately so he could be released from custody.
'No concern shown by anybody'
Magistrate Robert Young said the event itself was not in contravention of COVID directions but it had to be "held in a certain way".
He said the event became one in which there was "no concern shown by anybody".
Referring to the case of bar owner Vinod Parihar, Magistrate Young said it was not unusual for co-accused to seek to minimise their involvement.
He said Latief had a "lesser role" than Parihar, who had pleaded guilty and received a seven- month prison term, suspended for 12 months.
The magistrate said Parihar had claimed Latief had organised the party while he provided the venue.
Parihar's company was fined $25,000.
The magistrate said unlike Parihar, Latief had no legal obligation to enforce directions.
But he added that Latief was "heavily involved" in the organisation.
He acknowledged Latief's "good work history" and prior good character and fined him $6,000.
He had said the 27-year-old would have to spend 24 days in custody if he could not pay the fine.
The court heard Latief had come to Australia on a working holiday visa in 2018 and was now on a bridging visa.
Border protection officers had spoken to Latief about his visa, which could potentially be cancelled.
