Samer Mohamed allegedly robbed an elderly man before threatening a witness with a knife

An elderly man is in a serious condition after going into shock when an alleged thief robbed him at the ATM out the front of a popular shopping centre.

A student allegedly robbed an elderly man and then threatened to stab a good Samaritan who chased after him, a court has heard.

Samer Idrise Mohamed, 25, applied for bail by video link in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday, after he allegedly caused a man to go into shock after robbing him.

A police prosecutor strongly opposed the bail application, saying the charges were serious.

The court heard an elderly man withdrew $800 from an ATM outside the Arndale shopping centre on April 29.

“The victim sat outside the shopping centre near the taxi rank, the suspect sat with him,” the police prosecutor said.

“The suspect reaches across the victim’s body, reaching into his left hand pocket where the victim had stored his $800 and took the cash and ran off.”

A witness heard the man shout “stop him, he stole”, so the witness chased the suspect through the shopping centre.

“The suspect turned to face the victim … the suspect threatened ‘I’ll stab you bro’,” the police prosecutor said.

“The suspect then produced a folded knife, with a silver, metal blade about 15cm in length.”

The witness backed off and the suspect ran away.

Samer Mohamed was denied bail in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday, charged with aggravated assault and theft. Photo: File

Mohamed was then arrested by police on Friday in the Adelaide CBD.

The court heard the first alleged victim was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital presenting with shock and chest pains after the incident.

“He’s since undergone heart surgery … the victim is in a serious condition,” the police prosecutor said.

The court heard Mohamed as already on bail for a robbery which allegedly occurred on March 11.

Mohamed, of Woodville South, is charged with aggravated theft and aggravated assault. He is yet to enter any pleas.

Georgia Tolhurst, for Mohamed, told the court that Mohamed worked in construction and was a part-time student.

“He’s also completing Ramadan, so he’s fasting which is proving particularly difficult for him whilst in custody,” she said.

Magistrate Simon Smart denied bail, due to the serious allegations and Mohamed’s risk of reoffending.

The charges were adjourned until May.