The New South Wales Police has provided a crucial update on the investigation into two nurses from Bankstown Hospital who made shocking antisemitic comments, including threatening to “kill” Israeli patients.
The nurses, Ahmad ‘Rashad’ Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, were stood down by NSW Health after a recording of their comments was uploaded to social media by Israeli influencer Max Veifer.
What Happened So Far
The incident sparked widespread outrage, with federal Health Minister Mark Butler vowing to ensure the nurses never work in healthcare again.
The NSW Police launched an investigation, and Commissioner Karen Webb has now revealed that a brief is being prepared for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Challenges in the Investigation
However, the investigation has faced delays due to the fact that the key witness is based overseas, creating jurisdictional and language hurdles.
“This is a complex matter, given the geography of the nurses being here in New South Wales and the key witness is in Israel… (where) we don’t have jurisdiction,” Commissioner Webb explained.
To overcome these challenges, police have worked with overseas counterparts to obtain a statement, which then needed to be translated from Hebrew to English to ensure it’s admissible as evidence in court.
Progress in the Case
Despite the challenges, Commissioner Webb said that law enforcement has made “very solid progress” in their case against the two nurses.
While she didn’t provide details on the charges the nurses are facing, NSW Police Detective Superintendent Darren Newman previously mentioned that police are looking into a Commonwealth carriage service offence.
This could potentially be a charge of using a carriage service to menace, harass, or cause offense, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
What’s Next?
The case has sparked a heated debate about antisemitism and the importance of ensuring that healthcare professionals uphold the highest standards of ethics and compassion.
As the investigation continues, the community remains vigilant, awaiting the outcome and hoping for a just resolution.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.