Man who poured acid in lube dispenser at gay club appears in court

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a white background.

The man accused of pouring hydrochloric acid into a gay sex club lube dispenser in Sydney has appeared in court.

Hengky Irawan hid behind a yellow envelope as he arrived at Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday.

Man who poured acid in lube dispenser at gay club appears in court

The 62-year-old – who was a customer at the club – is charged with administering poison intended to injure or cause distress or pain, as well as entering a building with intent to commit an indictable offence and malicious damage.

He is also charged with driving while suspended after he drove to the sex club last month.

Police claim Mr Irawan entered the Aarows sex club and attempted to pour the acid into the dispensers.

However, as this was not the first time someone had tampered with such items, the room had been fitted with sensor alarms.

This lead to Irawan being caught by security guards at the 24-hour “gay, bi and swingers club”.

“Police will allege an alarm sounded and security detained the man before police from Rosehill Local Area Command attended,” police said at the time of the arrest.

It is thought that nobody was injured after the lube was swapped with the acid – which is corrosive to human eyes and skin and can lead to permanent scarring.

During the hearing, Irawan’s lawyer asked the court for a six-week adjournment so he could undergo a psychiatric assessment in order to gain a mental health application.

The case will continue on November 1.

Earlier this year, a man in the US who poured boiling water on a gay couple as they slept was sentenced to 40 year in prison.

“Get out of my house with all that gay,” Martin Blackwell told the couple as he threw the water.

Back in 2014, a man who sprayed bleach in the faces of punters outside a London gay club was sentenced to two-and-a-half-years in prison.