Dramatic arrest of Rashays co-founder after mask dispute

<p>Rashays, a high-profile restaurant chain has been involved in a massive crackdown after they did not adhere to COVID lockdown compliances.</p> <p>Rami Ykmour, the founder of the popular eatery was arrested, and two of his staff were fined for not wearing masks.</p> <p>The confrontation began when over 100 officers began patrolling the Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield and Liverpool local government areas on Friday.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">COVID Arrest: A Rashays co-founder has been charged after a tip-off that a number of workers weren't wearing masks.<br /><br />Rami Ykmour said his staff put their masks back on after eating, but he was led to a police van after allegedly refusing to provide details. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19NSW?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19NSW</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sydney?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sydney</a> <a href="https://t.co/LQ3Voyn2hg">pic.twitter.com/LQ3Voyn2hg</a></p> — 10 News First Sydney (@10NewsFirstSyd) <a href="https://twitter.com/10NewsFirstSyd/status/1413270911722000387?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2021</a></blockquote> <p>It was announced on Thursday that officers were showing extra show of force to ensure compliance: with lockdown restrictions as the city faces a surge of COVID-19 transmission.</p> <p>Footage that has since gone viral on Facebook shows Mr Ykmour speaking calmly with officers in the front of the office on Ferngrove Place at Chester Hill.</p> <p>Police were reportedly tipped off about a Covid-19 health order breach by an anonymous caller about 3.50 pm on Thursday.</p> <p>Two staff members allegedly became aggressive with police and the Rashays co-founder refused to provide his details.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842350/rashay-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8269026daf3a44f2a1c8f8dd8c0eb54f" /></p> <p>The video shows police pointing at staff who are not wearing masks, to which Mr Ykmour says is not a good enough reason to fine the restaurant as the workers could have been eating lunch or blowing their noses.</p> <p>“I'm here to follow the law,” Mr Ykmour can be heard saying to the officer.</p> <p>“You've just got to understand that these people here, are here supporting people who are unemployed. That's what we're doing, during a pandemic.”</p> <p>The argument escalated after Mr Ykmour asked the officer to wait in the lobby, but he refused to do so as “an offence has been committed.”</p> <p>Several officers soon appeared.</p> <p>“He's calling for backup,” Mr Ykmour can be heard saying to the camera.</p> <p>“Look how many police officers he's got. He's got 10 officers.”</p> <p>A staff member sitting at the reception desk can be seen becoming emotional.</p> <p>“One, two, three, four,” Mr Ykmour says while pointing around at the officers.</p> <p>“There's 20 people here for a young girl.”</p> <p>The woman then collapses onto the floor and Mr Ykmour calls an ambulance while yelling at the officers.</p> <p>“A police officer walks in and says to me there's 30 people in here, I got an anonymous call, that 30 people in here don't have a mask on,” he recalls calmly.</p> <p>The other officer confirms that police received the anonymous call to the shock of Mr Ykmour.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842349/rashay-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/02a7d5173aeb48f59e9ca1a84b4607b5" /></p> <p>A NSW Police spokesperson said two staff members have since been issued $200 fines for not wearing face masks.</p> <p>Mr Ykmour was arrested and issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for hinder police.</p> <p> </p>

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