- The former NRL star appeared in court on Wednesday.
- He was charged with hindering police.
- He had been arrested outside a popular pub.
Whether “victim or villain”, a magistrate has said a former rugby league prodigy needs to know what charges he faces after allegedly resisting arrest at a popular Sydney venue.
Arana Taumata, 35, appeared following his arrest at Waverley Local Court on Wednesday after being charged with obstructing police following his arrest outside the Coogee Pavilion on Saturday.
Police allege Taumata fled from officers who approached him outside the popular licensed premises in Sydney’s stunning eastern suburbs about 10.30pm, but was arrested after a short chase.
Police said a 29-year-old officer suffered a laceration to the head during Taumata’s arrest and was taken to hospital in stable condition, and the league star was twice denied bail over the weekend.
Appearing in court on Wednesday, a police prosecutor told magistrate Jacqueline Milledge that the allegations “looked like an assault” and that more charges were expected to be brought.
The court was told police alleged four officers were involved in the incident outside the known location and that Mr Taumata had “used his right arm to harm the police officer’s vest”.
Representing himself, Taumata said he had been approached by one of the officers and told the court he wanted to plead guilty so he could compile a “report” before another bail attempt next week.
Milledge said the 35-year-old was unable to enter a plea to the pending charges, but warned the police prosecutor that “whether you’re a victim or a villain, you need to know what you’re up against.”
Former league player Arana Taumata, 35, was charged with resisting arrest and appeared in court on Wednesday.
He was arrested outside a popular Sydney pub on Saturday and also faces four domestic violence warrants.
The magistrate adjourned the matter until Monday, a day before Taumata appears at Gosford Local Court on four outstanding domestic violence warrants and is expected to apply for bail.
It comes after an arrest warrant was issued for the one-time football prodigy in June after Taumata failed to appear at Gosford Local Court and was found guilty of seven offenses in his absence.
He had pleaded not guilty to fraud, handling the proceeds of crime, common assault and intimidation, but was found guilty in absentia and a warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to appear.
Taumata played a combined 14 NRL matches for Canterbury, North Queensland and Penrith from 2008 to 2012.
He was released by the Broncos, Roosters, Bulldogs, Melbourne and in 2013 the Panthers released him for off-field issues.