Latest news with #AdamAbdulHamid
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Why we can't picture or name three of the four teenage males accused of gang raping a girl in Sydney
While Australians across the country have called for the four young men who allegedly sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl to be 'named and shamed' three won't be. This week police arrested and charged four males, aged 14, 16, 18 and 19, over the alleged horrific sexual assault on December 15, 2024 in Western Sydney. Only the 19-year-old, Adam Abdul-Hamid, can be named because of the ages of the accused. He was charged with five counts of aggravated sex assault - offender in company with other person/s. Many have asked why three of the males cannot be named and are being protected by media and shielded from the public. In New South Wales, the Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 forbids the publication or broadcasting of the names of people under 18 involved in criminal proceedings. It was put in place to protect a juvenile offender's long-term reputation in the hope they will be rehabilitated and be able to re-enter society without the stigma associated with criminal charges. The public is never likely to find out who the three boys who allegedly committed the shocking gang rape are. 'The idea is that people under 18 deserve a second chance and should not have their reputations permanently damaged due to mistakes made in 'childhood',' Nina Funnel a journalist and survivor advocate said on 'And for petty, non-violent crimes, this may make sense. 'But when it comes to allegations of gang-rape, is the law keeping up with community expectations?' She explained there was a recent case of a woman in Sydney who was sexually assaulted by a teenage boy who was also charged with sexually assaulting up to six girls. He was younger than 18 when the crimes occurred so his identity was protected, but once he turned 18 he went on to be charged again with another offense but was found not guilty due to a hung jury. 'If a member of the public was to look him up, they would find a man who has no criminal record,' Ms Funnel said. 'There are other public interest and public safety arguments for naming convicted offenders. 'Specifically, when media do publish the names of men and women who have been charged with, or found guilty of, sexual violence, this can empower other victims in the community to come forward and report: both in general and specifically in relation to that named offender.' Hundreds of Aussies claimed the teenagers allegedly involved in the gang rape should be 'tried as adults' due to the severity of the alleged crime. 'Adult crime. Adult time. These creatures are old enough to understand their actions,' one person wrote. 'If they're old enough to sexually abuse a girl, they're old enough to be tried as adults,' a second commented. Others simply commented: 'Adult crime, adult time'. 'The 14-year-old and 16-year-old should be tried as adults,' said another. 'They are old enough to know their actions and have consequences - especially ones this bad.' What we know about the alleged offender we can name Abdul-Hamid, 19, was arrested at a Housing Department property on Monaro Place in Heckenberg, in Sydney's southwest, at about 6am on Tuesday. The former Sadleir Public School student had been working as a barber in Liverpool at the time of his alleged offending. A neighbour told Daily Mail Australia he was a 'pretty quiet' man and his family 'keep to themselves'. When she last spoke to him a year ago, Abdul-Hamid told her he was working at Westfield Liverpool - the same shopping centre where his alleged victim's ordeal began in December. Footage of Abdul-Hamid's arrest showed his family gathered outside the home as detectives escorted him to a police vehicle. One male family member was heard screaming 'why... why are you arresting him' as Abdul-Hamid was led away from the property. Other family members attempted to restrain the man as he continued to hurl insults at the officers. 'F**k your mothers,' the man said in Arabic before yelling 'all of you' in English. A woman was also seen using her phone to film police as they arrested the 19-year-old. 'I'll go this way, don't touch me. Don't touch me. Don't touch me or sexual assault me,' the woman said. As police loaded Abdul-Hamid into the back of the vehicle, the 19-year-old calmly told his family in Arabic: 'Don't say a word to anyone, yeah.' The woman echoed Abdul-Hamid's words and responded in Arabic 'don't say a word to anyone' before yelling in English: 'Don't trust these dogs, you can't trust these f***ing dogs.' Abdul-Hamid was listed to appear for the first time at Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday morning following his arrest on Tuesday. Abdul-Hamid's solicitor Muhammad Tehsledar told the court he did not require his client to appear via audio-visual link when the matter was heard. Mr Tehseldar made no application for bail but said he would be making a release order application for Abdul-Hamid in coming days. Outside court, Mr Tehseldar said Abdul-Hamid maintained his innocence and it would be inappropriate to make any further comment. The case was adjourned to Campbelltown Local Court on August 13. What we know about the alleged gang rape In the December incident, the 17-year-old girl was allegedly approached by a 16-year-old boy at about 5.30pm at a shopping centre in Liverpool, 31km southwest of Sydney's CBD. The 16-year-old allegedly followed the girl to her car and she reluctantly let him inside before he began sexually assaulting her. A short time later, the male asked to be driven 5km to Wheat Park in Sadleir, to which the victim agreed on the understanding he would get out of the car when they arrived. At the park, two other males entered the car, and they also allegedly sexually assaulted the girl. A fourth male then arrived in another vehicle, and the alleged sexual assault continued as the girl was driven around. The six-hour ordeal ended at about 11.30pm when the males departed and left the girl in her car. 'The four of them acted together, creating fear on the victim, degradating her, whilst the others offended against her, and at times, there was more than one person offending against this poor young girl,' State Crime Command's Sex Crime Squad commander Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty said. 'They haven't stopped at any point during that six hours and said this is wrong to any of their co-offenders. And that's the difficult part to come with, that four people could act together and keep going at that type of offending over such a long time.' 'They haven't stopped at any point during that six hours and said this is wrong to any of their co-offenders. And that's the difficult part to come with, that four people could act together and keep going at that type of offending over such a long time.' The teenager immediately contacted a friend who took her to Liverpool Police Station to report the attack. The other alleged offenders we can't name The two younger males faced a children's court that same month, while months of investigation led to the two older alleged offenders being arrested on Tuesday. Officers arrested a 16-year-old boy at a home in Condell Park in southwest Sydney, on December 20, 2024. He was taken to Bankstown Police Station where he was charged with 24 offences including nine counts of sexual intercourse without consent and eight counts of aggravated sex assault - offender in company with other person/s. Detectives arrested a 14-year-old boy at a home in Miller, also in Sydney's southwest, on the same day. He was charged with 10 offences including seven counts of aggravated sex assault - offender in company with other person/s. Both the 16-year-old and 14-year-old boys were refused bail and faced a children's court on December 21, 2024. At about 6am on Tuesday, detectives, along with the Public Order and Riot Squad, simultaneously executed two warrants at homes in Sadleir and Heckenberg - both in Sydney's south-west. Police arrested an 18-year-old man at the Sadleir property before taking him to Liverpool Police Station.
News.com.au
13 hours ago
- News.com.au
Why the media is unable to picture or name three of the four teenage males accused of gang raping a girl in southwest Sydney
When news broke on Wednesday that four teenagers had been charged following an alleged six hour gang-rape of a 17-year-old girl in western Sydney late last year, social media lit up with two questions: who on earth were these boys and why were their identities being protected by media and shielded from the public? So far we know that police claim on December 15, a 16-year-old boy, unknown to the girl, approached her in a shopping centre car park in Liverpool. The girl reluctantly let him in her car to 'sit and chat' before he allegedly attacked her. According to NSW police, the 16-year-old filmed certain parts of the incident which he broadcast on a video call to his mates. She then drove him to Wheat park, believing it to be her best chance of him leaving. But once there, two other teens got in. A fourth man also joined who took control of the car, and police claim that the group then took turns raping the girl, sometimes two at once. When they finally left, at around 11.30pm, the 'distraught' girl called a friend who took her to Liverpool police station. Five days later on December 20, the 14 and 16-year-old boys were charged with multiple offenses and this week, an 18-year-old and 19-year-old were also arrested and charged. So far, Adam Abdul-Hamid, the 19-year-old, is the only accused who has been named by the media. And all four co-accused have yet to have their day in court and are entitled to the presumption of innocence. The case, however, highlights an issue that many readers often find confounding: regardless of any eventual verdict, it is more likely than not that we will never be able to report the other three boys' names to you. This is because in New South Wales, the Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 prohibits the publication or broadcasting of the names of people under 18 involved in criminal proceedings. This is to protect their long term reputation from the potential stigma associated with criminal charges, and to aid in their re-entry into society and rehabilitation in the event of a guilty verdict. The idea is that people under 18 deserve a second chance and should not have their reputations permanently damaged due to mistakes made in 'childhood'. And for petty, non-violent crimes, this may make sense. But when it comes to allegations of gang-rape, is the law keeping up with community expectations? And is the principle of open-justice being served? Theoretically, in NSW a sentencing judge can make an order to remove the suppression gag on their names at this point of sentencing, but this almost never happens. But at what price? I recently interviewed a young woman in Sydney who was sexually assaulted by a teenage boy. She wasn't alone. In total he was charged with sexually assaulting up to six teen girls. He was convicted of a number of those offenses but since they all happened while he was under 18, his name cannot be published in relation to those convictions. Worse still, once he turned 18, he was charged again with another offense, but this time was found not guilty due to a hung jury. To Google his name now, you would conclude he has no criminal record as the one and only result suggests that he was charged but found not guilty of the adult offense. It's a result which could easily mislead any young woman who now crosses paths with him. Another perverse outcome of this law is that journalists often have to suppress critical information in gang-rape cases of how boys or men are linked. While I make no comment about the case announced yesterday, it's not uncommon, for example, in gang-rape cases for the accused to be linked through family, a sporting team, or some other club or association. However if one or more of the alleged offenders are under 18, journalists must suppress not only their name, but also their identity and this will often extend to other personal information, including their family, school, sporting teams and so on. The result is that journalists are sometimes forced to leave out critical information which helps give context and can inform violence prevention research - including how the teen boys know each other. Most perverse of all though is how this law can impact complainants and victims. Rightly or wrongly, they are left with the perception that the accused's right to privacy and reputation is more important than their own and , but at times this law can directly silence victims. I'll never forget meeting a young woman who was raped at age five by her 17-year-old brother. He was found guilty and served jail time. She wanted to reveal her name and tell her story as part of her healing. But because they share a surname, and his identity is automatically suppressed due to his age at the time of the offending, her identity is forcibly kept secret by the law too, meaning she cannot ever share her name and full story, absent a specialised court exemption. These are just some of the perverse outcomes of this law aimed at protecting young people. But finally, it's worth remembering that aside from upholding the principles of open-justice, there are other public interest and public safety arguments for naming convicted offenders. Specifically, when media do publish the names of men and women who have been charged with, or found guilty of sexual violence, this can empower other victims in the community to come forward and report: both in general and specifically in relation to that named offender. The reason for this is that many victims of sexual assault choose not to report at first, especially if they believe they are 'the only one'. Isolation, shame, self-blame, fear of not being believed, and fear of reprisals are just some of the reasons many stay silent. But when a victim learns their offender has been charged with another offense this can empower them to take steps to report: not only is there strength and safety in numbers, but survivors also instinctively understand that an offender who harms two people is capable of harming many more. It takes enormous strength and courage to report a sexual crime. I hope as a community we know how to stand with those who do.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Fresh details emerge about the suburban life of the 19-year-old barber charged over the alleged six-hour gang rape of a teenage girl
Before he was accused of taking part in the six-hour gang rape of a Sydney teenager, Adam Abdul-Hamid lived a 'quiet' life with his family in social housing and worked as a barber. Abdul-Hamid, 19, was arrested at a Housing Department property on Monaro Place in Heckenberg, in Sydney's southwest, at about 6am on Tuesday. He was one of four males, along with a 14, 16 and 18-year-old, taken into custody over the alleged sexual assault of the 17-year-old girl on December 15, 2024. Due to his age, he is the only accused person who Daily Mail Australia can name. Dramatic police footage showed Strike Force Police, along with the Public Order and Riot Squad, breaking down the door as they executed a warrant at the Heckenberg property. Abdul-Hamid was charged with five counts of aggravated sex assault - offender in company with other person/s. The former Sadleir Public School student had been working as a barber in Liverpool at the time of his alleged offending. A neighbour told Daily Mail Australia he was a 'pretty quiet' man and his family 'keep to themselves'. When she last spoke to him a year ago, Abdul-Hamid told her he was working at Westfield Liverpool - the same shopping centre where his alleged victim's ordeal began in December. Footage of Abdul-Hamid's arrest showed his family gathered outside the home as detectives escorted him to a police vehicle. One male family member was heard screaming 'why... why are you arresting him' as Abdul-Hamid was led away from the property. Other family members attempted to restrain the man as he continued to hurl insults at the officers. 'F**k your mothers,' the man said in Arabic before yelling 'all of you' in English. A woman was also seen using her phone to film police as they arrested the 19-year-old. 'I'll go this way, don't touch me. Don't touch me. Don't touch me or sexual assault me,' the woman said. As police loaded Abdul-Hamid into the back of the vehicle, the 19-year-old calmly told his family in Arabic: 'Don't say a word to anyone, yeah.' The woman echoed Abdul-Hamid's words and responded in Arabic 'don't say a word to anyone' before yelling in English: 'Don't trust these dogs, you can't trust these f***ing dogs.' In the December incident, the 17-year-old girl was allegedly approached by a 16-year-old boy at about 5.30pm at a shopping centre in Liverpool, 31km southwest of Sydney's CBD. The 16-year-old allegedly followed the girl to her car and she reluctantly let him inside before he began sexually assaulting her. A short time later, the male asked to be driven 5km to Wheat Park in Sadleir, to which the victim agreed on the understanding he would get out of the car when they arrived. At the park, two other males entered the car, and they also allegedly sexually assaulted the girl. A fourth male then arrived in another vehicle, and the sexual assault continued as the girl was driven around. The six-hour ordeal ended at about 11.30pm when the males departed and left the girl in her car. The teenager immediately contacted a friend who took her to Liverpool Police Station to report the attack. The two younger males faced a children's court that same month, while months of investigation led to the two older alleged offenders being arrested on Tuesday. Officers arrested a 16-year-old boy at a home in Condell Park in southwest Sydney, on December 20, 2024. He was taken to Bankstown Police Station where he was charged with 24 offences including nine counts of sexual intercourse without consent and eight counts of aggravated sex assault - offender in company with other person/s. Detectives arrested a 14-year-old boy at a home in Miller, also in Sydney's southwest, on the same day. He was charged with 10 offences including seven counts of aggravated sex assault - offender in company with other person/s. Both the 16-year-old and 14-year-old boys were refused bail and faced a children's court on December 21, 2024. At about 6am on Tuesday, detectives, along with the Public Order and Riot Squad, simultaneously executed two warrants at homes in Sadleir and Heckenberg - both in Sydney's south-west. Police arrested an 18-year-old man at the Sadleir property before taking him to Liverpool Police Station. He was charged with nine counts of aggravated sex assault - offender in company with other person/s. Abdul-Hamid was listed to appear for the first time at Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday morning following his arrest on Tuesday. Abdul-Hamid's solicitor Muhammad Tehsledar told the court he did not require his client to appear via audio-visual link when the matter was heard. Mr Tehseldar made no application for bail but said he would be making a release order application for Abdul-Hamid in coming days. Outside court, Mr Tehseldar said Abdul-Hamid maintained his innocence and it would be inappropriate to make any further comment. The case was adjourned to Campbelltown Local Court on August 13.
News.com.au
a day ago
- News.com.au
Young South West Sydney barber accused of gang rape
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. 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 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 '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.' 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.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Teens Allegedly Filmed 6-Hour Gang Rape of Girl: ‘Horrific'
Four teenagers were charged with gang-raping a 17-year-old girl in Sydney, Australia over the course of six hours. The Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian Broadcasting Company and reported that police said the girl had been at a shopping center when she was approached by a 16-year-old chatting with her, the boy then allegedly followed her to her car and sexually assaulted her. During the initial sexual assault, police reportedly said the 16-year-old boy called three other teens. Following the initial assault, the girl asked to be taken to a park, where she believed she would be able to leave the car, according to the ABC. But once at the park, two more teenage males allegedly joined the assault. A fourth eventually joined after arriving in another car, according to the outlets. The Herald reported that snippets of video showing the "horrific" assault were shared among the four teens as they drove around the area. The 16-year-old was arrested on Dec. 20 and was charged with 24 offenses, including sexual intercourse without consent. A 14-year-old was arrested that same day and was charged with multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault in Tuesday, June 17, police arrested an 18-year-old man, who was charged with nine counts of aggravated sexual assault in company, according to the reports. He was a minor at the time of the alleged crimes. The outlets also reported that 19-year-old Adam Abdul-Hamid was arrested Tuesday and charged with five counts of aggravated sexual assault in company. For legal reasons, Abdul-Hamid is the only alleged offender who can be named. His lawyer told media that his client 'maintains his innocence,' per ABC. It is not immediately clear if any of the defendants have entered a plea. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to . Read the original article on People
