Police swoop on YouTube producer
Counter terrorism police have been dispatched to arrest the producer of a YouTube show.
Kristo Langker, a 21-year-old producer for YouTube comedian Friendlyjordies has been charged with allegedly stalking and intimidating New South Wales deputy premier John Barilaro.
Detectives from NSW police’s fixated persons unit have acted on a complaint from Mr Barilaro, arresting Kristo Langker at his family home in Sydney on 4 June and charging him with two offences of “stalk or intimidate intending to cause fear of physical or mental harm”.
It is a big move in an ongoing battle between Mr Barilaro and his critics, who the deputy premier has also sued over a video accusing him of corruption.
The fixated persons unit was set up to tackle lone actor extremists in the years after the Lindt cafe siege in Sydney.
Mr Langker’s lawyers, Xenophon Davis, say it was a massive overreach.
The lawyers also allege Mr Langker’s mother was assaulted during the arrest, which led to the young man being placed on “utterly extreme” bail conditions that prohibit him from possessing even images or caricatures of Barilaro, or commenting on his “personal appearance or behaviour”.
The criminal allegations relate to two encounters between Mr Langker and Mr Barilaro.
The first allegedly occurred at a Macquarie University ‘politics in the pub’ event, where the deputy premier was approached about his legal case against the YouTube channel.
The second incident is alleged to have occurred in the hours before Mr Langker’s arrest, when he approached Mr Barilaro as he was returning to his car in Sydney.
Mr Barilaro got into his car and was driven away without answering any questions.
Mr Langker’s lawyers, say that video of the incident “does not appear to accord with the police facts”.
Police had alleged that Mr Langker was following Barilaro for about 200 metres and called him “corrupt”. The word “corrupt” does not appear in video footage of their interaction.
Police have taken out an apprehended violence order on behalf of the deputy premier.
“The behaviour of the accused, friendly jordies and the public reach of the friendly jordies media platform has caused the victim to be constantly anxious and in fear of his and his families [sic],” police said in a statement of facts.
“Due to the public reach and offensive nature of the friendly jordies media platform, the victim in his public position is harassed by the followers of Friendly Jordies.”
Xenophon Davis partner Mark Davis said Jordan Shanks, the host of FriendlyJordies, “may be in danger of imminent arrest”.
Mr Langker’s family has accused police of being rough with his mother and girlfriend, leaving them “injured and traumatised”.
Reports say Mr Langker’s mother will make a complaint about the incident.