Dr Umithevi Khattab in Maroochydore District Court for attempting to pervert justice

A successful Sunshine Coast academic and mother-of-two sobbed in court as she was punished for writing a false statement to support her son’s alibi after he was charged.

A Sunshine Coast academic has been caught out for writing a false statement saying her son was at her house at the time of his alleged burglary.

Umithevi Khattab, now 66, pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to pervert justice in Maroochydore District Court and was given a sentence of 15 months’ jail suspended immediately.

The court heard her son, Ziddane Khattab, was taken into custody for a charge of burglary and began constructing his alibi which included being at his mother’s address during the alleged offending on February 10, 2021.

The son called Khattab a number of times between March 11 and August 25, 2021, where he discussed with her the details of his alibi.

He told his mother that she picked him up from his house and he stayed with her without a car, which she agreed to.

During a phone call in April the son told his mother she had been a bit vague in her communications with the lawyer and reminded her that he was facing three years’ jail.

Police prosecutions received a submission from the son’s solicitor with an affidavit confirming he was at Khattab’s house on the day of the alleged burglary.

The court heard the alibi was investigated and was found to be false.

When confronted by police, Khattab told them she honestly believed it was true to the best of her knowledge.

Defence barrister Peter Dighton said Khattab made a poor choice driven by emotion and concern for her son.

“She felt terribly conflicted by the position she was being pressured into and torn about what was the right thing to do and whether as a mother she should believe her son and therefore protect him,” Mr Dighton told the court.

“She was very worried she would lose her son if she did not believe him.”

Mr Dighton said it was the first time her son had been in jail and it followed an unexpected death of his father who was also Khattab’s husband.

Judge Glen Cash said she made a “selfish” decision to put her interests and her son’s interests before society’s.