‘Stupidity’: Uber driver arrested for allegedly ‘brandishing’ water pistol near parliament

A man who is alleged to have brandished a water pistol resembling a Glock near Parliament House has received a dressing down from a magistrate and told he’s lucky he wasn’t tasered or shot, a court has heard. Waqar Virk, 28, appeared in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Friday after spending the night in police custody on remand after his arrest on Thursday afternoon. Police were called to Hospital Road near Parliament House after a man was seen waving what appeared to be a firearm, the court was told. When he was arrested, police say they searched his car and found a water pistol, with the court hearing on Friday that it was “strikingly similar to a Glock”. The court was told he made “full admissions” to police to possessing the water pistol before he was charged with possessing an unauthorised firearm. “I invite Mr Virk to take a moment to reflect on his actions and consider the stupidity of his actions,” magistrate Greg Grogin said as he granted Mr Virk conditional bail. The court heard the Pakistani national asked to be released on bail to work as a truck and Uber driver. A picture from his Instagram account shows Mr Virk wearing a what appears to be a police hat and was captioned: “Not All Police Officers Are Bad”. The court heard it was alleged by the police prosecution that just before 1pm, the Uber driver was seen on CCTV in the driver’s seat of his vehicle, “brandishing” and “waving” the water pistol and firing water in the air. The matter was reported to police and he left the area before officer arrived. He was later arrested at Mascot. Police have alleged the water pistol looked like a dark coloured pistol similar to a “Glock” manufactured firearm. “I have no idea why a person would take such an object to such a high profile place and wave it around,” Mr Grogin said. The court was told he had planned to give the water pistol to his nephew in Pakistan. Mr Grogin told Mr Virk he was lucky he was not tasered or shot given he was seen brandishing an imitation pistol, which looked like a Glock, near Parliament House. “If there was an offence of committing a very stupid act in public, Mr Virk would no doubt be pleading guilty at the first available opportunity,” Mr Grogin said. He added: “Why he would be waving it around in public is beyond me.” He was released on strict bail conditions including that he not go within 1km of Hospital Road or Parliament House, surrender his passport and report to Granville Police Station. “Yes my lord, I understand,” Mr Virk said as he watched proceedings via videolink from Surry Hills Police Station. Mr Virk will appear in court on November 29, when a plea must be entered.