Family's alleged violence may sink gang rape parole

ATTORNEY-General Greg Smith is to appeal a decision to grant conditional parole to gang rapist Mohamed Sanoussi.

A GANG rapist's parole will be appealed after his brothers and cousin faced court charged with a string of violent offences yesterday.

Just hours after the Parole Authority agreed to allow the conditional release of Mohamed Sanoussi, his brothers and cousin faced Bankstown Local Court charged with offences including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, intimidating police and destroying property.

It prompted Attorney-General Greg Smith to seek an "urgent" review, referring to "new and relevant information (that) was not available to the State Parole Authority".

"This information may have had a bearing on the authority's decision," Mr Smith said.

SURVIVOR'S UTTER CONTEMPT FOR RAPIST MOHAMED SANOUSSI

CONVICTED RAPIST MOHAMED SANOUSSI GRANTED HIS FREEDOM

Sanoussi, now 29, has served 13 years of a 16-year jail term over his role in two of a series of gang rapes in 2000. He was one of 14 young males convicted.

The Parole Authority ruled he could be released after September 25, imposing conditions include wearing a tracking device, not drinking or taking drugs, not associating with the Brothers For Life gang and a ban on visiting certain places in Kings Cross and Bankstown.

After being rejected three times for parole, the authority decision yesterday said: "The offender has continued to participate in external leave without incident ... additional conditions will assist in the monitoring, supervision and case management."

However, it noted a police report, tendered during a public hearing two weeks ago, that raised concerns about Sanoussi's connections to notorious criminal gang Brothers For Life. The police report said gang members were seen visiting the Sanoussi family home when the convicted rapist was there as part of weekend and day release.

"Mr Sanoussi has a background of being prone to the pressure of his peers, including his brothers," the Parole Authority decision said. "If the information in the police report is correct, that raises great concerns about whether he might be falling into that company again."

Sanoussi's cousin Muhammad Sanoussi, 29, and brothers Mahmoud Sanoussi, 28, Ahmed Sanoussi, 30, and another man, Armed Breaery, 31, were arrested after a cleaner at a smash repairs store in Bankstown alleged he was assaulted by them on Wednesday.

Police allege the 47-year-old was punched after first being hit with a broom and a safety cone. The alleged attack was witnessed by two off-duty police officers. Three of the group were arrested on Wednesday night at a home in Greenacre and charged with assault, intimidating police, destroying property and affray. They were all refused bail during a court appearance yesterday. The cousin, who also faced court, was granted bail after his arrest.

Mr Smith is set to appeal Sanoussi's release to the NSW Court of Appeal.