Arabic version: رفض الإفراج بكفالة عن رجل متهم بتهديد مكتب بيزلي

According to ABC News, John Lawrence Smart has been refused bail after appearing in Perth Magistrates Court over an alleged threatening incident at Labor MP Hannah Beazley’s electorate office in inner-city Victoria Park. Smart is accused of making threats on Wednesday while carrying what police described as an “improvised martial arts weapon”.

The police prosecutor alleged Smart was armed with an implement resembling nunchucks and had another similar item attached to his belt. The court was told he was shouting and screaming at office staff. Smart said the objects were claves, wooden percussion sticks he had played for years, rather than weapons.

The 56-year-old has been charged with being armed to cause fear, making a threat and possessing cannabis. The magistrate said she had received a multi-page mental health assessment and heard that Smart had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had previously been an involuntary mental health patient. He is due to return to court on October 29 and may be placed on the waiting list for the Frankland psychiatric facility.

Beazley, the Disability Affairs and Local Government Minister, said the incident was not the first time she and her staff had faced “very menacing” threats. Her office remained closed on Thursday, though staff continued working. Beazley said she would be more proactive about pursuing legal action over online threats after previously asking police to drop one matter because she did not have time to deal with it.