G20 rioter jailed for 14 months

Originally Posted by http://news.theage.com.au/g20-rioter-jailed-for-14-months/20080307-1xs1.html

A protester involved in the violent G20 riots in Melbourne in 2006 has been jailed for at least 14 months.
Akin Sari, 29, of no fixed address, was among a group of demonstrators who stormed a city office, attacked a police brawler van and hurled rocks, rubbish bins and milk crates at police outside the Group of 20 nations summit on November 17 and 18, 2006.

Sari pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated burglary and theft, two of riot, two of common assault and three of criminal damage.
The Victorian County Court was told that Sari played a major role in the protests and was caught on camera damaging a police brawler van at the intersection of Exhibition Street and Flinders Lane, in the city, on November 18.

"At the intersection of Exhibition Street and Flinders Lane a group of police were attacked," Judge Roy Punshon told the court.
"They tried to hide behind a brawler van.

"A DVD shows you (Sari) throwing objects at police."

Judge Punshon told the court that Sari was also seen smashing a window on the police brawler van and taking a log book.
Earlier in the afternoon Sari was with a group of protesters who attacked two traffic event officers, one a woman, outside the Grand Hyatt hotel where the summit was being held.

The court heard that the officers' utility was surrounded by protesters dressed in white jumpsuits.
"You grabbed the female victim by the arm ... and menaced both victims with a metal pole," Judge Punshon told the court.
"The common purpose of the riot was to gain access to the G20 summit."

A day earlier protesters broke into the defence force recruitment centre in Swanston Street, in the city.
"Each of the incidents was relatively brief, but I accept it would have (felt like) it lasted much longer for those involved," the judge added.

He said the "offending is serious" but he took into account Sari's guilty plea, that he had no previous convictions and had already spent 215 days in custody.

He sentenced Sari to 28 months in jail with a non-parole period of 14 months.
More than 20 other people involved in the protests have yet to be dealt with in the magistrates court