Alleged drunk attacker accused of assaulting Tuggeranong bus driver with a soundbar

Alusine Sankoh was charged with allegedly assaulting a bus driver. Photo: Albert McKnight.

After a man jumped on a bus in southern Canberra, he allegedly continued to drink alcohol, got into an argument with the bus driver, and then attacked her with a soundbar.

Alusine Sankoh, 32, boarded a bus in Tuggeranong that was bound for the Woden Bus Interchange at around 1:30 pm on Wednesday (22 May), ACT Policing alleged.

Police said the bus driver became suspicious that he may have been drinking alcohol and pulled over a short time later to speak with him.

Mr Sankoh allegedly became aggressive and refused the driver’s directions to leave, then pulled out a metre-long soundbar speaker and threatened her with it.

Police allege he eventually left the bus after kicking the driver’s cabin door into her leg and hitting her with the soundbar.

She contacted the police, and officers found Mr Sankoh nearby and arrested him.

Mr Sankoh was charged with three counts of assault and one count each of possessing an offensive weapon, acting in an offensive manner on a bus and obstructing a bus employee.

Transport Canberra expressed concerns that he had allegedly been threatening a staff member while using public transport, the prosecutor told the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday (23 May).

She said police believed that if he was granted bail, he would allegedly continue to pose a risk to the public.

The prosecutor also claimed he had been intoxicated on the bus and continued to drink even when the bus driver asked him to stop.

Mr Sankoh applied for bail, which was not opposed by the prosecutor and Magistrate James Lawton granted it, then adjourned the matter to 14 June. No pleas were entered.