‘Not on board’: Victims of Sudanese youth gang violence won’t help police investigation, court told

Reluctant witnesses are posing a problem for police investigating Sudanese youth gang violence, a court has heard.

Operation Meld detectives are “having to go the long way around” because alleged victims of a Sudanese youth gang feud are “not on board” with giving evidence, a court has heard.

In the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday, SA Police asked for further time to provide evidence against Mathiang Malok to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

They conceded they had previously said the Nairobi Affair Lounge brawl case would be ready within two months of Mr Malok’s interstate arrest, but that the scope of the investigation had changed since then.

“There have been a number of other people arrested in relation to this matter and police have been undertaking extensive investigations,” a prosecutor said.

“Most of the victims are not on board, so detectives are having to go the long way around.

“They’re examining banking, phone and medical records because, with some victims not co-operating, they’re making requests to Medicare to ascertain where they sought treatment.”

Mathiang Malok, centre, was extradited to Adelaide following his arrest. Picture: 7NEWS.

Mr Malok, 23, has been charged with attempted murder, aggravated causing serious harm with intent and affray.

The charges arise from the Nairobi Affair Lounge brawl in March, which SA Police allege is linked to Operation Meld investigations into a feud between rival Sudanese youth gangs.

Mr Malok was arrested at a house in Epping, Victoria, a month after the brawl

On Tuesday, counsel for Mr Malok asked the case be thrown out, saying police had failed to meet legislated deadlines for the provision of evidence.

They said they had written to police, seeking a copy of CCTV footage of the alleged brawl, on April 19 and May 17 – but were only given the material before court started.

Magistrate Simon Smart said that was unsatisfactory.

“So when someone’s lawyer writes to you saying ‘can I have the critical bit of evidence’, they have to wait?” he asked the prosecutor.

“Defendants have a right to receive evidence in a timely fashion and receive advice from their lawyer about it... this man is in custody.

“It behooves police, as model litigants, to hand evidence over promptly, not delay it.”

However he declined to dismiss the charges and remanded Mr Malok in custody to face court again in August.