NSW:Hage-Ali denies telling police she was a role model
11 Dec 2008 12:18 PM
SYDNEY, Dec 11 AAP - A former NSW Young Australian of the Year, who has admitted using cocaine, has denied telling arresting police she was supposed to be a role model.
Under cross examination in the NSW District Court on Thursday, Iktimal Hage-Ali also denied telling the officers: "How embarrassing, you must have all been laughing".
The 24-year-old is suing the state of NSW, claiming she was wrongfully arrested and detained in Sydney on November 6, 2006.
The arrest occurred eight days before Ms Hage-Ali, a member of former prime minister John Howard's Muslim Community Reference Group, was named NSW Young Australian of the Year, a title she later relinquished.
She was released without charge hours after her arrest, having told police she was a cocaine user, but had never supplied the drug.
Peter Bodor QC, for the state of NSW, suggested she said the following to police officers before an interview was recorded:
"I am supposed to be a role model, I am a finalist in the NSW Young Australian of the Year.
"I spoke at your multicultural day, how embarrassing, you must have all been laughing.
"Will the media find out? Will my work find out?"
Ms Hage-Ali denied saying those words.
Mr Bodor also suggested that when she was arrested at her family's home, her mother said: "Not Iktimal, she is a good one, you must have got it wrong".
Ms Hage-Ali also denied that her mother said those words.
The hearing is continuing before Judge Michael Elkaim.
