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‘Mr Bondi’ has won $90,000 from NSW Police after he was dramatically arrested on the beach in the height of Sydney‘s lockdown.
Dimitri Moskovich, 55, was tackled and handcuffed in his Speedos on April 19 last year and charged with resisting an officer and failing to comply with a notice in a public place.
The colourful Russian-born personality maintained there were no signs at North Bondi’s Ben Buckler Point, and he was entitled to go outside for essential exercise.
Police withdrew the charges in March and agreed to pay his legal costs of $25,000 – but Mr Moskovich launched a civil suit against them for maliciious and wrongful arrest and prosecution.
The case was to be heard later this month, but authorities agreed to settle the case, resulting in a $90,000 payout for Mr Bondi.
Sydney man Dimitri Moskovich (pictured) has won $90,000 from NSW Police after they agreed to settle his civil suit
Mr Moskovich told reporters after leaving court in March he couldn’t believe such a thing could happen in Australia.
‘I came to this country, it’s a free country, when it happened to me I thought I was in Russia,’ he said.
His lawyer Nick Hanna said he couldn’t have broken lockdown laws because he wasn’t disobeying any signage.
‘Mr Moskovich could not have broken any law about contravening a council sign because there was no sign,’ he said.
‘This meant that the arrest of Mr Moskovich was unlawful and so he could not be guilty of resisting arrest.’
Dozens of shocked locals watched and filmed Mr Moskovich – wearing nothing but his signature red budgie smugglers – being arrested by two police officers.
In the distressing footage, Mr Moskovich was held down on the grass while the officers attempted to handcuff him.
Locals pleaded with police not to use handcuffs and let Mr Moskovich keep his ‘dignity’.
Mr Moskovich’s arrest (pictured) made headlines after he was filmed in a struggle with two NSW officers and now his lawyer argues the arrest involved ‘unlawful force’
Dozens of shocked locals watched on and filmed Mr Moskovich (pictured), wearing nothing but his signature red budgie smugglers, being arrested by police officers
‘Just cooperate with us okay?’ the female officers told Mr Moskovich, who called out to onlookers to film the incident.
He begged police to allow him to go with them without being handcuffed first.
‘Please guys, just stop. I’m not doing anything wrong. You started harassing me. You started with me about nothing,’ he is heard saying.
‘I’ll come with you to the police station but I’m not giving you my arms.’
Police eventually handcuffed Mr Moskovich before putting him in the back of a police car.
He was then charged with resisting arrest and failing to comply with a notice in a public place.
At the time of his arrest, Bondi Beach had been closed for more than two weeks after the coronavirus outbreak.
Mr Moskovich is famous among the Bondi community, and is often seen working out on the famous promenade’s outdoor gym.
Dimitri Moskovich sustained bruises to his wrist and a cut on his forehead after being pinned down by police
His arrest was also captured on an officer’s body-worn camera, however the court heard it was only switched halfway through the interaction.
In the video Mr Moskovich is reportedly heard saying to two Rose Bay Police Station constables: ‘You assaulted me for nothing… you’re abusing your power.’
The local celebrity then asks: ‘Do I have to put my arms behind my back? Can you please tell me why?’
One of the officer’s simply replies: ‘You’re under arrest’.
Mr Hanna said his client should never have been charged.
‘His damages are extensive. In the interim however, the bare minimum NSW Police could do is issue an apology to Dimitri.’
NSW police told Daily Mail Australia in a statement the decision to drop the charges against Mr Moskovich was made following a review by senior officers at Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command and the prosecutors.
‘An internal investigation is underway into the circumstances of arrest and conduct of involved officers,’ NSW Police said.
‘As the matter is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further.’
Mr Moskovich (pictured) is famous among the Bondi community, and is often seen working out on the famous promenade’s outdoor gym
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