NRL star turned boxing champion Anthony Mundine has been found guilty of breaching Covid restrictions after a three-year court battle during which it emerged he had been receiving “nonsensical” legal advice from a mysterious lawyer known only as “Nige”.
The 49-year-old appeared at Bankstown Local Court on Tuesday for sentencing after pleading not guilty to a charge of failing to comply with a Covid notice order on July 21, 2021.
Police alleged the retired athlete, also known as ‘The Man’, failed to scan a QR code to check in at a Bunnings store in Kingsgrove, south of Sydney, when New South Wales was in lockdown.
The outspoken former St George Illawarra Dragons player was also allegedly not wearing a mask while inside the store, but claimed he was exempt from the mask mandate.
In his judgment, Magistrate Glenn Walsh said Mundine had no reasonable excuse for not complying with the regulations, but had a “point of principle which he wanted to defend”.
“He simply had a view that he thought was right, but which he now knows is wrong… He gave evidence that he was very sorry for what he did,” the magistrate told the court.
Anthony Mundine (pictured) has been found guilty of breaching Covid restrictions after a court battle that dragged on for three years.
Even Mundine’s former boxing foe Danny Green (pictured fighting Mundine) sided with the former NRL in the matter.
‘He was very polite to everyone working there (Bunnings) that day and was well known. When he spoke to the police, he put forward a point of view that I did not defend.
Noting the dismissal of 33,000 Covid fines, of which Mundine’s would likely have been included had he not gone to court, Walsh dismissed the case without conviction or punishment.
The court was told the boxing champion received incorrect advice from his lawyer, who gave no evidence and was referred to only as ‘Nige’, about the validity of Covid-era regulations.
Mundine told Bunnings staff and then police that the regulations allegedly breached privacy and biosecurity laws, and lacked legitimacy as they had not been approved by the Upper House.
Despite claiming in court that he was not informed about the laws, Walsh said Mundine had not wanted to comply with Covid regulations and sought a “pseudo basis for saying so”.
‘The defendant sought advice before going to Bunnings. “He knew the relevant restrictions and did not want to be subject to them,” Mr Walsh told the court.
‘He may have sincerely held his belief that he was not obliged. The advice he sought made no sense. His statement to the police that he was familiar with the acts was patently false.
He added: ‘It was not as if he had challenged the legality of the order before the Supreme Court. He just decided he could go to Bunnings and buy and not deliver.’
The court heard Mundine had been receiving “nonsense” legal advice on Covid restrictions from a mystery lawyer known only as “Nige”.
Bunnings store staff testified during the hearing that Mundine had told them he was “not required to scan the QR code or wear a mask” when he was stopped by security.
When questioned by one of the staff on his way out, Mr Mundine said: “I didn’t mean to be rude to the other guy earlier.” What you are doing is illegal. You can’t legally force me to register.
They said Mr Mundine added: “What you are doing is illegal, it is against the privacy and biosecurity law and I can sue you if I want.” If I had filmed you, I could sue you.
Questioned by police later that day at his home, Mundine, after seeking legal advice, informed officers that he had no comment and had the right to remain silent before making confessions.
He told officers he did not have to wear a mask due to a medical condition, adding that it was his “human right…protected by privacy law, I know a little bit of my shit.”
Mundine went on to cite alleged violations of biosafety laws and told officers, “I don’t have to do it.” The biosafety law protects me… You have to learn about that.”
Later in evidence, Mundine said he did not remember where he learned of the alleged breaches of law posed by Covid regulations, citing his lawyer and his cousin ‘Simmy’.
When asked if he would do the same if presented with the same situation today, Mundine admitted he would comply with the regulations despite his otherwise outspoken opinions.
“I was probably excited about all the information I got or believed at the time… I’m a proud person, I felt violated.” Broken. My rights were violated… I simply felt wronged, mistreated.
‘It was all pretty crazy… as a human being I felt that not only me but everyone was being violated… I like to lead. I just thought I was doing the right thing, but obviously I wasn’t.
Outside court, Mundine said he was “glad it was finally over.” “It’s a weight on your back.”