In one more case of folks in Australia being challenged by the diversity-is-beautiful mythology, an Iraqi refugee charged with an alleged rape, and new to Australia, was released on bail despite pleas by the victim that she feared for her safety.
From the Sydney Morning Herald:
An Iraqi refugee accused of dragging a woman from a Brisbane park into his house and raping her twice has been released from custody.
The 50-year-old Stafford man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faced Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with two counts of rape and one of deprivation of liberty.
The court heard an Indonesian woman had complained that the man had grabbed her on Tuesday afternoon from Stafford’s Gibson Park where she was sitting on a bench, talking on her phone.
He then allegedly took her through the park, through his back yard and into a bedroom where he sexually assaulted her.
The court heard the woman complained to police on leaving the house, later pointing out the address to officers and describing a computer in the bedroom where officers found the accused.
Police opposed the granting of bail too.
Police prosecutor Constable Sam Bopf, who opposed bail, highlighted the random nature of the attack.
She said a neighbour had reportedly seen the man approach other women in the park and police feared he would reoffend.
The complainant was terrified of her alleged attacker and there was a risk he would approach her if he was let out of custody because they lived in the same area, she said.
She also noted the accused had been in Australia just five or six months, was unemployed, spoke no English and had no strong ties to the community, making him a flight risk.
What is the deal with this last part? We keep hearing that Australia’s refugee resettlement program is supposed to be a superior one—then why is this guy basically just hanging around parks?