Man arrested at Sydney Airport over alleged robbery, assault in Canberra and refused bail

Kang Zhao, 30, has been remanded in custody over an alleged robbery and assault. Photo: ACT Policing.

A man stopped at Sydney Airport over the alleged robbery and assault of a woman in Canberra has been extradited to the Territory and refused bail.

Police arrested 30-year-old Kang Zhao at the airport on Monday (5 December), and he appeared over audio-visual link in the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday. He sat with his arms crossed and was helped by a Mandarin interpreter.

ACT Policing has previously said that at about 4:10 pm on 4 October 2022, a woman returned to her car near Corkhill Street in Acton where she allegedly found three people spray painting signage.

She was allegedly attacked and had her iPhone smashed during the incident.

Mr Zhao is accused of assaulting her and damaging her phone. He was formally handed charges of robbery and assault on Wednesday before his lawyer, William Chan from William Chan and Company Lawyers in Sydney, said he would not make a bail application that day as he was “not ready”.

Mr Chan said his client was currently an illegal immigrant as his visa expired when he was arrested in Sydney.

He said accommodation had to be arranged for Mr Zhao and his understanding was that police would apply for him to have a criminal justice visa.

Special Magistrate Margaret Hunter remanded him in custody and adjourned the matter to 19 December for a bail application. No pleas were entered.