Assault Accused Get Bail, But Give Up Passports
The Age
Wednesday November 16, 2005
FIVE men accused of involvement in a violent attack on the media last week have been released on bail and ordered to surrender their passports to police.
The men - who are family and friends of nine men allegedly involved in a Melbourne terrorist cell - allegedly attacked a cameraman outside the Melbourne Magistrates Court on November 8.Abdul Sayadi, 24, of Brunswick, Nasser Raad, 27, of North Coburg, Monzer Ramadan, 28, of Coburg, Majed Raad, 21, of Coburg, and Bassam Raad, 24, of Meadow Heights, have each been charged with affray and assault. Sayadi, Nasser Raad and Ramadan have also been charged with behaving in a riotous manner.The violent incident was captured on film, with Channel Seven cameraman Matt Rose suffering cuts and bruises.All five were arrested and charged yesterday and appeared in court in a secure dock flanked by security guards.Melbourne Magistrates Court was told that bail was not opposed on the condition that the men surrender their passports.Detective Senior Constable Dale Fitzgerald said Ramadan and Sayadi started the "unprovoked attack", and were then joined by the other three men.The officer requested that all five surrender their passports and report once a week to police. "They have strong family links in Lebanon and that is a major concern that they have easy access to escape and having a passport and family to assist them," Senior Constable Fitzgerald said.The officer said "quite a few" of the men were unemployed and he was also concerned by their relationships with the nine terror suspects.During cross-examination by the men's defence lawyer, James Dowsley, the officer denied a claim that all five were to be granted bail at a police station to appear in court at a later date.Mr Dowsley said each of the men rented or owned property and had strong ties to the jurisdiction and were not flight risks.Magistrate Paul Smith granted bail and ordered all five to give their passports to police within 24 hours of their release.He said it was "a wise and cautious" decision to order the men to surrender their passports as he thought there was a risk of flight.All five were released yesterday afternoon from the Melbourne Custody Centre to a waiting media pack - which included cameraman Rose. They will appear in court again in February.
© 2005 The Age