THE PIE shop trio arrested for allegedly breaking COVID-19 orders and refusing to wear masks while at work north of Tamworth have had their cases called in court for the first time.
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The accused Jaime Ann Schultz, 38, Alexander Walter Pordage, 41, and Sienna Gordon, 23, had their matters mentioned in Armidale Local Court on Monday.
The cases were adjourned for a week.
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The Pie Mechanic is a popular bakery in Uralla and remains closed almost three weeks after police claim they attended a business on Bridge Street and found the three staff members not wearing masks while working.
Schultz, Pordage and Gordon were arrested and charged by New England police on July 9, and each face a single allegation of not wearing a fitted face covering while in retail or business premises.
Court documents show defence solicitor Rasha Shammas represented all three of the accused in court. Each of their cases was adjourned to early August.
Officers from New England Police District claim they visited The Pie Mechanic bakery about lunchtime on Friday, July 9 for compliance checks, and found staff inside not wearing a mask or face covering.
Police allege compliance officers had already spoken to three people on two occasions earlier that week, and had already issued them with penalty infringement notices (PINs).
Schultz, Pordage and Gordon were taken to Armidale Police Station after their arrest on July 9 and were released on conditional bail. Magistrate Roger Prowse ordered bail to continue on Monday.
The mask rule was introduced by the state government as the Sydney outbreak of COVID-19 continues to intensify, though there are some exemptions to the order.
The health order indicates people must wear a mask when indoors at a non-residential premises in NSW, including while shopping or working at a business, unless they have an exemption.
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