Tamworth publican Michael Foxman has been taken to a Sydney hospital for assessment after he was arrested in Sydney for messages he allegedly sent in breach of his bail conditions on social media platform LinkedIn.
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The Imperial Hotel owner fired his solicitor before he appeared in custody via video link in Tamworth Local Court on Thursday to represent himself.
The 50-year-old went on to make allegations against local police, accused the magistrate of bias and referred to himself as a "political prisoner" of Waverley Police Station where he had been held for the previous 12 hours.
Foxman was due to appear in court on Thursday on a number of other charges, including allegedly threatening a court official, but was arrested on Wednesday night.
Unhappy with his treatment from "day 1", Foxman told the court his civil, economic and moral rights had been violated by the court system because he had not "received a fair trial".
"It would be best for the courts to relieve the bail conditions and let the NSW Supreme Court, which has received motions from me, and the Secretary of State in Colorado who has an interest in this matter," he said.
"I want to put on the record as well I am extremely stressed. I am 100 per cent perfectly innocent. I have emphatically emphasised I am innocent from the get go.
"I have been informing the court with compelling evidence that everything is not as rosy as it may seem and the matter needs to be investigated at a higher level."
Legal Aid solicitor Rae Parker was then appointed to represent Foxman on the detention application, but not the substantial charges.
Ms Parker told the court Foxman did not agree he had breached his bail but expressed she had concerns about whether her client was fit to proceed.
"Mr Foxman may disagree with me on that, but as an officer of the court I would have to say to Your Honour that I have grave concerns for his well-being," she said.
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"I would propose, and again he may disagree with me, that he perhaps should be taken to St Vincent's Hospital for assessment overnight to see if he is well enough to proceed."
Foxman told the court he would be "delighted" to be assessed before beginning to argue about his rights and perceived "irregularities" in the case.
Magistrate Peter Thompson reminded Foxman he had the right to silence.
"If you continue to speak you negate your right to silence on the criminal matters," he said.
"You are currently in custody, sir, and your liberty at the moment is in a situation where you are detained - that has to be a priority over any civil matters."
Foxman was ordered to undergo assessment, and the matter will return to court at a later time.