A Sydney teenager accused of displaying a terrorist organization’s flag during a recent protest has broken cover by wearing designer accessories and driving a $165,000 Mercedes.
Sarah Mouhanna, 19, was seen leaving her family home in Arncliffe, in Sydney’s south, on Tuesday, six days after handing herself in at Kogarah police station when her image was released to the media.
The young nail technician, who works three days a week, was seen leaving the luxurious seven-bedroom home currently under renovation with a $2,970 Louis Vuitton bag and $1,190 Christian Dior sandals.
The wealthy teenager then got behind the wheel of a $165,000 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class pickup truck and drove a short distance to a friend’s house in nearby Rockdale.
Police in New South Wales launched a public appeal that led to Mouhanna surrendering last Wednesday, after she was seen at a protest in Sydney on September 29 against the Israeli bombing of Gaza.
She was subsequently charged with displaying a symbol of a banned terrorist organization and was granted bail ahead of her court appearance on October 23.
The protest, attended by thousands of people, was part of a broader movement of support for Palestine and Lebanon as tensions in the Middle East rise a year after the Hamas attack on October 7, which left 1,200 Israelis dead.
Sarah Mouhanna seen walking towards her Mercedes-Benz GLE Class van
The young nail technician was wearing $1,190 Christian Dior sandals and a $2,970 Louis Vuitton bag.
Iran-backed Hezbollah has been listed as a terrorist group in Australia since 2021, and the display of its symbols is illegal under Commonwealth law.
Up to 30,000 protesters marched in Sydney and thousands more in Melbourne in support of Palestine and Lebanon last month.
Several were seen waving the yellow flag of Hezbollah, a militant and political group from Lebanon that has been listed as a terrorist organization in Australia, as well as photographs of its slain leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Protests continued over the weekend and into Monday, as the world marked one year since the attacks.
Thousands of Australians took part in vigils and demonstrations across the country on Monday to mark the first anniversary of the October 7 attack on Israel.
More than 40,000 Palestinians have died in the deadly conflict that followed October 7.
Tensions have risen further after Israel killed Nasrallah in an airstrike, prompting Iran to launch a barrage of missiles on Israel.
New South Wales Police released photographs of Sarag Mouhanna as part of their investigation into the public order incident in Sydney last month.
Sarah was seen leaving Kogarah police station in Sydney’s southern suburbs last Wednesday afternoon, shielding her face with her jacket.
Liberal senator James Patterson said the sight of Hezbollah flags at the September 29 demonstrations in Melbourne and Sydney was “disturbing” given Australia designates the group as a terrorist organisation.
‘This is a clear contravention of section 80.2HA of the Commonwealth Criminal Code. “It’s time for the police to enforce the law,” he tweeted.
The display of flags representing a listed terrorist organization is a prohibited offense and was widely condemned by politicians, police and Jewish organizations.
Protests in support of the Palestinians have been taking place on the streets of Australian cities for almost 50 weeks since Israel’s military retaliation to the October 7 attacks by Hamas on its territory and the taking of Israeli hostages.
AFP commissioner Reece Kershaw described the display of Hezbollah flags as “un-Australian” and an offense under federal law.
“If they fly these flags, particularly those of Hezbollah and Hamas, action will be taken,” said Commissioner Kershaw.
