Disgruntled worker Mohammad Jawad Anwari in Brisbane court accused of arson, rape

A disgruntled worker has faced court accused of setting 10 cars alight at a Brisbane business where he had lost his job – the day after he allegedly committed serious sexual offences.

Mohammad Jawad Anwari, 40, faced Brisbane Arrest Court on Saturday, November 2, after being extradited from New South Wales.

A disgruntled worker has faced court accused of setting 10 cars alight at a Brisbane business where he had lost his job – the day after he allegedly committed serious sexual offences.

Coopers Plains resident Mohammad Jawad Anwari, 40, was extradited back to Queensland on November 1 after he allegedly fled to New South Wales and attempted to evade police capture.

Mr Anwari, born in Kabul, made an application for bail at Brisbane Arrest Court on Saturday, November 2.

It’s alleged Mr Anwari used an accelerant to set fire to 10 cars on October 27 at a Sherwood Road, Sherwood, business where he had previously worked.

Police prosecutor Michael Godfrey said it would be alleged Mr Anwari committed the arson offences “as a result of losing that employment”.

According to court documents, the cars involved included a Toyota RAV 4, Hyundai i30, Nissan X-Trail, Mitsubishi Pajero, Mazda 3, Mitsubishi Outlander, and two Mitsubishi Lancers and Toyota Camrys.

Mr Anwari is charged with 10 counts of arson, two counts of rape, and one count each of wilful damage, unlawful penile intercourse of a person with an impairment of the mind, and deprivation of liberty (confined in vehicle against will).

Mr Anwari’s lawyer Niamh Toomey said the evidence relating to Mr Anwari’s sexual charges was “not as strong”.

Those charges are all alleged to have occurred on October 26, the day prior to the alleged arsons.

The court heard there had been DNA evidence collected in relation to the sexual charges after the complainant went to police some days later.

But Ms Toomey said the matter of consent was “based on (the complainant’s) word”.

Mr Anwari has since been apprehended in New South Wales and extradited back to Queensland.

The court heard it would be alleged he had driven dangerously and attempted to evade police in New South Wales.

Snr Con Godfrey called Mr Anwari a “great flight risk”, noting Mr Anwari had told police that he had used multiple phones to avoid detection.

Magistrate Mark Nolan denied Mr Anwari’s application for bail, finding that he posed an unacceptable risk of failing to appear, committing further offences, or endangering the safety and welfare of the community.

“I don’t believe that there are any conditions that I could place on bail which would adequately mitigate the risks that I’ve identified,” Mr Nolan said.

Mr Anwari was remanded in custody to appear at Brisbane Magistrates’ Court over videolink for a committal mention on November 18.