The man who disarmed one of the gunmen during the Bondi terror attack has pleaded not guilty in his first court appearance after being charged with assaulting his father.
Ahmed Al Ahmed, 44, is accused of putting his father in a headlock on March 9 as well as being charged with intimidation over an alleged incident in June.
His heroic efforts garnered worldwide attention, with a fundraiser reaching more than AU$2.5 million (NZ$3.1 million), but the sizeable amount had become a source of tension with his family.
Ahmed Al Ahmed came from Syria for a better life and didn't hesitate to run into harm’s way for the citizens of his new country. (Source: 1News)
Al Ahmed faced Bankstown Local Court in southwest Sydney on Wednesday flanked by supporters.
His lawyer Mohamad Sak formally entered not guilty pleas to the charges on behalf of Al Ahmed.
"There is one thing that should be upheld and that is the presumption of innocence," he told reporters outside court.
"He's a heroic man, and his honesty and dignity should be maintained until these matters ultimately are determined."
Al Ahmed's court case came as his brothers, Sameh and Hozifa, each faced charges of using a carriage service to menace or harass.
They both pleaded not guilty to the charges at the same court on May 20. They will be back in court on July 8.
In a tearful 2GB Radio interview, Al Ahmed vehemently denied the allegations levelled against him and instead accused his family members of wanting a cut of the funds.
"This situation is untrue, it's extortion ... and my two brothers have been harassing me, abusing me and pushing to get money from me," he said in June.
The tobacconist rose to prominence after video captured the moment he crept behind one of the Bondi gunmen, and tackled and disarmed him, slowing the attack and saving lives.
Courageous Ahmed Al Ahmed, 43, was filmed wresting a gun from the hands of a shooter in the rampage. (Source: 1News)
He was shot multiple times in the arm during the incident.
Al Almed was visited in hospital by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as he recovered from his injuries.
In the months since, he had been awarded with Keys to the City of Canterbury-Bankstown, where he lived, and Waverley.
He would return to court on August 12.
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