Operation Meld accused Mathiang Malok caught stabbing victim on CCTV, court hears
A Victorian man charged over a brawl at an Adelaide bar was captured on CCTV “thrusting” a knife at the victim, a court has heard.
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An Operation Meld accused who was allegedly captured on CCTV “thrusting” a knife at a victim during a wild brawl at a Grenfell St venue has been refused bail amid concerns he could flee interstate.
Mathiang Malok, 24, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday where he sought release on home detention bail to live with an aunty in Adelaide’s north east.
Prosecutors told the court Mr Malok, who entered a not guilty plea to charges including a count of aggravated causing harm with intent during the hearing, was one of a group of men who attacked two victims at the Nairobi Affair Lounge after a music event in March 2022.
The prosecutor said the fight broke out about 1am and initially involved about 15 people before a smaller group spilt into the venue’s foyer.
The court heard those involved in the fight used makeshift weapons from the venue, including glasses and tables until Mr Malok introduced a knife.
By then, the court heard Mr Malok was among a group of about six men who targeted two alleged victims.
The prosecutor said CCTV from the incident showed Mr Malok “thrusting the knife towards the victim’s torso, stabbing him” near a stairwell.
“It’s the prosecution case that this offending is more serious than that of the co-accused,” she said.
Mr Malok was arrested in the Melbourne suburb of Epping last April and extradited back to South Australia.
The prosecutor said Mr Malok had few ties to the state and was at risk of fleeing back to Victoria where he had “substantial ties” if granted release on bail.
Patrick Deegan, for Mr Malok, said the CCTV of the incident was “not clear whatsoever” and was capable only of “showing bodies”.
“It is not capable of establishing identification,” he said.
He said the only link between his client and the incident was a security guard who said he had spoken to a man with similar clothing. He said investigators used the clothing to later identify his client, but at the time there had been 40 people of a similar age at the venue.
He said the victims were not co-operating with police.
Magistrate Brian Nitschke refused Mr Malok release on bail due to his lack of ties to the state and the risk he could flee back to Victoria if released on bail.
During the same hearing, Mr Malok and another man also charged over the brawl, Henry Laduma, entered not guilty pleas to violence related charges via their lawyers and were ordered to stand trial.
Two other co-accused – Leek Bior Atem and Craig Keith Makosa – have not yet entered pleas. The court heard Mr Makosa was likely to enter a guilty plea to lesser charges, while Mr Atem’s lawyer’s were also negotiating with prosecutors.
They return to court later this month while Mr Malok and Mr Laduma will next appear in the District Court in April.
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