- Smith, 29, fronted Southport Magistrates Court
A female journalist has been struck in the chest by a man accompanying Brandon Smith as the South Sydney star fronted a Queensland court on charges of allegedly supplying a dangerous drug and using or disclosing inside knowledge for betting.
Magistrate Deborah Mitchell granted the Rabbitohs forward bail on the condition that Smith doesn’t contact Roosters star Victor Radley or an accused drug dealer.
Smith’s lawyer Paul McGirr said his client will plead not guilty to both charges.
Smith refused to answer questions as he was swarmed by reporters and photographers – with Sky News Australia reporter Lauren Forbes getting hit with an accidental elbow to the chest during the melee.
She was accidentally struck by a man who got into a Toyota Kluger with Smith after the hearing.
The 29-year-old is alleged to have taken an illegal photograph with a woman as he waited to sign his bail papers, according to News Corp.
Brandon Smith is pictured outside Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday morning
Journalist Lauren Forbes (pictured left) was elbowed in the chest by a man accompanying Smith as the NRL star left the court
Forbes (pictured) was caught up in a media scrum outside the court in Southport
The taking of photographs or video footage inside a courtroom is not permitted in Queensland.
The lawyer who represented Smith in court on Thursday, Adam Moschella, would not comment on the accusation when contacted by the Daily Mail.
The charges against Smith stem from a police investigation after officers seized Smith’s phone at Gold Coast Airport on August 9.
The South Sydney hooker was questioned by police when he arrived in Queensland ahead of their August 10 clash with Gold Coast.
He was quizzed before the Titans game with police saying they had cause to speak to the 29-year-old at Coolangatta Airport.
But he was released without charge and ran out against the Titans.
‘We chatted to him about a number of things and then he was able to go on and play football,’ Acting Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy said.
‘Brandon was very co-operative with us and he was able to go on and play a good game of football from what I saw.’
The Souths star stands accused of supplying a dangerous drug and disclosing inside knowledge for betting
Smith is not allowed to contact his former Roosters teammate Victor Radley (pictured together) as a condition of his bail
However, police confirmed on August 25 Smith had been charged.
The next day the NRL allowed the rake to play in the final regular season round for South Sydney, ruling out the prospect of enforcing an immediate ban.
The Sydney Roosters have become entangled, with text messages allegedly exchanged between their star lock Victor Radley uncovered in the police investigation.
There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Radley and the Roosters player has not been charged with any offence.
Smith is due to appear in court again on October 9.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .