Bloody idiot rioter's pension reviewed
CLEMENTINE CUNEO and AMY DALE
January 23, 2013 12:00AM
WHILE the taxpayer supports accused rioter Omar Halaby, he spruiks about terrorism and illegal drugs on his Facebook page - and even does the odd day's work on a construction site, despite receiving a disability pension.
Now it is understood Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin will review the 19-year-old's case after he bragged on the social network site about being employed.
The Padstow man, who was one of seven people charged for his role in last September's Muslim riot in the CBD, claims to have learning and physical disabilities from a past football injury that prevent him gaining employment.
But The Daily Telegraph can reveal that, while Halaby is collecting a $200-a- week pension, he works as a sub-contractor on a construction site.
In his Facebook profile Halaby also refers to the US President Barack Obama as a terrorist and posts pictures of drugs and police dressed as pigs.
Photos of him covered in blood after "a fight with me bro" were also among his pictures,as well as photos of guns, swords and motorbikes.
Halaby last week escaped with a 12-month good behaviour bond for his role in the riot, with his lawyer telling magistrate Pat O'Shane that he suffered from learning and physical disabilities.
"He has literacy issues, a short attention span, things to that effect," Legal Aid lawyer Sophie Edin said.
He pleaded guilty to smashing the windscreen of a marked police car with a milk crate and assaulting a TV cameraman.
The court heard Halaby yelled Islamic slogans at the camera crew and pushed a cameraman during the protest. He paid $500 for the damage to the police car.
Just before his court appearance last Friday, he posted on Facebook: "Having the time of my life at Downing Centre Local Court."
A spokeswoman for Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin last night said Halaby's case would be reviewed.
To be eligible for the disability support pension, a person must have a permanent disability or medical conditions that make them unable to work.
Halaby would not answer the door at the home he shares with his parents yesterday - instead he yelled taunts out the window.
Several men remain before the court charged over the Sydney riot, with at least one to face a hearing next month.
Benjamin Homan, one of the other men convicted over the Sydney riot, was hit with an eight-month suspended sentence and ordered to do 300 hours of community service.
Former champion boxer Ahmed Elomar, the only person to be kept behind bars after the riot, appeared briefly in Central Local Court yesterday. His case was adjourned until January 31.
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