A former NSW Police officer, Meleck Lababidi, has been unsuccessful in his bid to be reinstated to the force after being dismissed for creating a false intelligence report as revenge against a member of the public. The Industrial Relations Commission upheld the decision by then Police Commissioner Karen Webb to remove Lababidi from his duties in November 2024, citing a loss of confidence in his suitability to serve.
Lababidi's actions stemmed from an incident on March 20, 2022, when a member of the public, identified as KD, filmed an interaction with Lababidi's colleague, former Constable Soueid, outside Bankstown Police Station. KD subsequently posted the video to TikTok, alleging police harassment and brutality. This prompted a series of text messages between Lababidi and Soueid, which were later extracted by investigators.
In these messages, Lababidi expressed anger towards KD, stating, 'The intel I’m gonna do is gonna make him regret his life.' On March 24, 2022, Lababidi created a police intelligence report labeling KD as a person of interest involved in potential drug supply and an associate of an organized crime figure. The report suggested KD be stopped and searched. Lababidi later texted Soueid, 'Almost finished that intell, smashed the c***.' The report was disseminated to various police units and external agencies.
Lababidi was suspended in September 2023 pending an investigation. He was later informed that Commissioner Webb was considering his dismissal. Lababidi defended his actions, claiming he acted in good faith to assist Soueid and that his texts were humorous. He also argued that his temporary posting at Burwood Police Station did not negate his duty to Bankstown.
However, Justice David Chin of the Industrial Relations Commission rejected Lababidi's claims, describing his conduct as a significant abuse of police duty and power. The court found that the plan for revenge was hatched before Lababidi accessed the police database and that the alleged association with organized crime figures was fabricated. Justice Chin acknowledged that police officers can face difficult interactions with the public but stressed the paramount importance of maintaining integrity within the NSW Police Force.
Lababidi's disciplinary record showed a history of concerns regarding his conduct. While at Burwood, he faced multiple complaints, including an allegation of excessive force that was later withdrawn, and required further training after calling a woman mid-arrest 'uneducated.' He also received a complaint for inadequate case management and underwent counseling after failing to follow Taser protocol and lodging a falsified report in 2023. He was also restricted to station duties for three months following an alleged physical altercation with a member of the public, though this complaint was also reportedly withdrawn.
Lababidi's appeal to have the removal order overturned was dismissed, with the court affirming the Commissioner's decision that his actions rendered him unsuitable for continued service.