Young South West Sydney barber accused of gang rape

News.com.au

5 hours ago

One of the four teens charged over the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl works at a barber shop in western Sydney.
News.com.au can reveal Adam Abdul-Hamid works at a Liverpool business and can be seen on videos promoting 'mid skin-fades' and inviting people into the store.
The former Sadler Primary School student was arrested on Wednesday morning amid volatile scenes in his front yard - one of four accused of sexually assaulting the woman over a six-hour period in December.
Family members yelled 'what have you done to him', while a woman screamed 'shut your mouth, don't say a word' in Arabic as the 19-year-old was led out of the house and through the front yard.
Abdul-Hamid told police: 'Don't touch me.'
He was taken to Liverpool Police Station where he was charged with five counts of aggravated sexual assault in company. Police also applied for an apprehended violence order to protect the alleged victim.
A woman in the yard took pictures of assembled media and followed one crew in their car for several kilometres.
A neighbour told news.com.au said her son, who is a similar age, played with Abdul-Hamid growing up.
'Then they both got older and the parents basically told him to stop coming over,' she said.
She said Abdul-Hamid was into motorcycles and came from a big family, with a lot of people always at home.
'We've just tried to keep our distance mostly in recent years, but he's always said hello to us,' she said.
Tik Tok accounts show a young Abdul-Hamid miming songs and kicking a soccer ball in the front yard, and in one picture he is wearing a Bulldogs jersey.
On Wednesday afternoon Abdul-Hamid's case was mentioned in court. He did not appear and did not apply for bail.
Outside court, his lawyer, Muhammad Tehseldar, said the 19-year-old 'maintains his innocence'.
'These are serious matters which are presently before the court,' he said.
'Under the circumstances, it is not appropriate to comment,' Mr Tehseldar said.
Police allege a 16-year-old boy struck up a conversation with the victim in the bustling Westfield shopping centre, where she was Christmas shopping, before suggesting they go to her car.
They then went to Wheat Park at Sadleir, according to police, who allege the boy video-called three others, including Abdul-Hamid, who got into the vehicle and took turns sexually assaulting the girl, including while the car was driving around.
The other three accused, who cannot be named because of their ages at the time in question, have also been remanded in custody following their arrests.
High profile barrister and former prosecutor Margaret Cunneen SC says the alleged gang rape of a Sydney teen, if proven, suggested a resurgence of organised sexual violence of a nature and severity not seen in 25 years.
Ms Cunneen, who had a long career prosecuting hundreds of criminal trials and appeals including dozens of rape trials, said if the four charged men were convicted, the case demands a 'renewed lesson in deterrence' for a new generation.
'Should these allegations be proved, it would suggest a resurgence of organised sexual violence of a nature and severity not seen in NSW since the crimes of 2000 and 2001,' Ms Cunneen told news.com.au.
'After a generation passes, there are sometimes occasions when the Courts must reinforce salutary lessons of deterrence'.
Ms Cunneen said 'harsher penalties' would need to be considered so 'this type of crime dare not even be contemplated.'
Her comments come as NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley declared 'men's behaviour must change' following shocking allegations that a 17-year-old girl was gang raped over six hours in Sydney's west in December last year.
Ms Catley said she was 'completely sickened' by the case. 'It is unimaginable and shocking,' she said.
'I want to thank the tireless work of our police and the Sex Crimes Squad for their work. Because of their efforts, four people have been charged and are now before the courts,' she said.
'Women – particularly young women – need to feel safe on our streets. Men's behaviour must change.'
News.com.au understands police set up a team of detectives the very day after the teen made the complaint.
Within five days they had arrested two of the alleged offenders and then they devised covert strategies that involved following another two suspects and gathering information to charge them.
By Tuesday they had what they considered sufficient evidence to lay charges and made immediate plans to pounce the next morning.
'A horrific crime of this nature drives our investigators to be meticulous in gathering evidence,' said Acting NSW Police Commissioner Peter Thurtell.
'Both physical and electronic surveillance was used extensively,' he said.
'The moment officers knew they could throw the book at them, arrests were made,' Mr Thurtell said.
Commissioner Thurtell said that if there is anyone who is a champion of public and community safety in this regard it is the head of the Sex Crimes Squad Detective Superintendent Jane Dougherty and her team.