Outside court, Wakim told media that Matthews was “distraught, of course”.
“It’s not something that, you know, is welcoming, you coming home to find yourself arrested,” he said.
Mark Latham was escorted out of Grandview Restaurant at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Saturday.Credit: Nine
Wakim said police bail could “have very easily been granted” but there was a process to follow, and he was thankful to have her released the next day.
“She’s not a flight risk … she’s got no criminal history in so far as anything that would cause police concern or the community at large … Other than that, I mean, she does have very good character, and we can just rely on that, in due course.”
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Asked about whether the charges relate to any videos allegedly taken inside parliamentary grounds, Wakim said they do not.
The Herald is not identifying the alleged victim for legal reasons.
In July, this masthead revealed Latham’s parliamentary office was allegedly used to film sex tapes with Matthews, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the accusations against the MP. Matthews also alleged her relationship with Latham had been abusive.
Latham didn’t deny using the parliament office for sex, but said at the time that “if [Matthews] has recorded these videos, it has been without my knowledge and consent”.
Matthews, a Liberal Party member and former OnlyFans creator who splits her time between Dubai and Sydney, alleged in documents filed with the NSW Local Court in July that Latham engaged in a “sustained pattern” of abuse, including forcing her into degrading sexual acts, along with emotional, psychological and financial manipulation.
She alleged Latham demand she call him “Master”, defecated on her before sex, and drove his car at her, with his side mirror hitting her and “causing a bruise”. This masthead does not suggest that the claims against Latham are true, only that they have been made.
Latham denied the allegations, calling her claims “nonsense”.
“I have broken no law. The police did not involve themselves in [Matthews’ apprehended violence order] matter,” he said at the time.
The pair were in what Latham called a “casual, open arrangement” for over two years. The pair’s relationship ended on May 27, the same day Latham was involved in a vote to decide the future of Rosehill Gardens racecourse.
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Matthews’ arrest comes one day after Latham was escorted by police from a venue at Royal Randwick Racecourse after refusing to leave when asked by management. The two incidents are not related.
During Monday’s bail application, Wakim said this matter would next be mentioned at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, alongside Matthew’s private AVO.
Matthews was granted bail under the conditions she surrender her passport (which had already been done) and not contact any prosecution witness unless through a lawyer.
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