Al-anwar Newspaper English news in Australia
“Sydney icon” Danny Lim has been hospitalised while being arrested by two police with video appearing to show the 80-year-old hitting his face on tiles and bleeding from the head as shocked onlookers gasp and call for an ambulance.
Mr Lim is known around the city for his colourful and provocative sandwich boards, which he wears over his chest, that poke fun at politicians and encourage Sydneysiders to “smile”.
The sandwich boards have seen him have run ins with police before and, on Tuesday, his legal firm posted a grainy video filmed inside the Queen Victoria Building.
The video appears to show Mr Lim calling for help as police restrain his arms.
Mr Lim appears to topple forward as police grapple with him and his head strikes the tiles as the officers handcuff him.
He is sat up with blood streaming from around his eye and on the tiles, the video appears to show.
NSW Police, in a statement, said officers were called to the George Street shops just after 11am on Tuesday after “a male failed to leave the building when asked”.
“Police will allege the man was subsequently issued with a move on direction by officers and failed to comply,” NSW Police said.
“The man’s arrest was discontinued after he struggled with police and sustained an injury to his cheekbone.”
“Police from Sydney City PAC have reviewed body worn video of the incident.”
Mr Lim was taken to St Vincents Hospital. No charges have been laid.
An independent review will examine the actions of police during the incident.
There are fears his injuries could be worse than just his cheekbone with those close to Mr Lim concerned he could have other head injuries.
Mr Lim was wearing the same sandwich board that previously saw police criticised for another arrest in 2019.
Mr Lim, in 2019, was arrested at Barangaroo for wearing a sign that said “SMILE CVN’T! WHY CVN’T?”.
He was fined but had it overturned with the magistrate describing the police arrest as “unnecessary and very heavy-handed” at the time.
