Court: Abdul Omar allegedly drove stolen car in high-speed police pursuit in Southern Tablelands

A Victorian man will remain behind bars on remand after police allege he committed a rash of crimes across rural NSW, including driving a stolen car in a high-speed police pursuit.

A Victorian man will remain behind bars on remand after police allege he committed a rash of crimes across rural NSW, including recklessly driving a stolen car in a high-speed police pursuit.

Abdul Omar (also known as Abdigibar Ali Omar), 35, appeared in Moss Vale court on Tuesday after being charged with 14 offences allegedly committed in four rural NSW towns.

Police allege the Fitzroy resident began his crime spree by leading police on a high speed chase through the Southern Tablelands town of Bowning on the early morning of May 6 last year.

According to police allegations, Mr Omar knew police were pursuing him when he recklessly drove a white Mercedes sedan at a dangerous speed but didn’t stop when required to do so.

Abdul Omar allegedly led police on a high-speed chase through Bowning in the Southern Tablelands.

Police claim he was in a collision with another car at 8.15am in Yass and failed to give his details to the other driver involved.

According to police, Mr Omar failed to stop and failed to give his particulars to the other driver because he knew the white Mercedes he was driving was stolen property. Documents tendered to the court state the car was stolen from a car rental company in Tullamarine, Victoria prior to the police pursuit.

Police allege Mr Omar was again using a vehicle stolen from Victoria when he was in the Southern Highlands in January this year. According to police, the Toyota Rav 4 being driven by Mr Omar was stolen from a Melbourne suburb prior to its journey north.

Police claim Mr Omar knew the car was stolen and used counterfeit Victorian number plates in order to mislead authorities about the legitimate registration details.

According to police, Mr Omar had a knife on his person at the Highlands Hotel in Mittagong at 1.30pm on January 12 without a reasonable excuse.

At the same approximate time, police allege he was in possession of ammunition without holding a permit for the related firearm.

Mr Omar also allegedly had a hoard of unlawfully obtained goods in the stolen Toyota Rav 4, which included a woman’s drivers licence, a credit card, a fuel card, a Canon camera, a car key for a Porsche, and an Apple Macbook.

Abdul Omar allegedly had a knife on him at Highlands Hotel in Mittagong in January 2022. Picture: Google Maps

On Tuesday, Moss Vale court heard Mr Omar would live with his family in Mount Druitt and comply with strict bail conditions if released from custody.

The court heard he would be confined to his family home unless in the case of medical or legal appointments or to report to police daily. Mr Omar’s lawyer suggested his client’s father could escort his son to any appointments, to further alleviate the court’s concerns.

He told the court his client would agree to have only one phone which could be tracked by police to ascertain his whereabouts at any given time.

The court heard Mr Omar has been in lockdown for three weeks in jail, and has been unable to contact anyone except his lawyer. His lawyer argued he should be granted bail to allow for better access to legal services and his family.

However, police prosecutor Peter Robinson told the court Mr Omar has a history of failing to appear in court.

Sergeant Robinson said there were also “complicating factors” to consider, including a charge in Victoria – where the court heard his record includes convictions for robbery with an offensive weapon, recklessly causing serious injury, custody of a knife, theft of a motor vehicle, and negligent driving.

The prosecution opposed bail and argued “the conditions would not discharge the bail concerns”.

Magistrate Mark Douglass agreed Mr Omar’s criminal history did not assist him.

Abdul Omar will return to Moss Vale Court later this month.

“It’s an extensive history and I draw the conclusion that it is a history based on drug addiction,” he said.

“Given the offences in Victoria and NSW and then the allegation of further offences in Victoria … there is an unacceptable risk of him failing to appear.”

Magistrate Douglass refused the bail application and directed Mr Omar to remain in custody at least until the next court appearance.

The court heard he has entered pleas of guilty to the custody of a knife and two counts of possessing goods suspected stolen.

Mr Omar will return to Moss Vale court on March 22 to enter the outstanding pleas.