Former fugitive and Canberra public servant Haider Ali, 37, refused bail

Haider Ali fled to Pakistan during his rape and indecency trial in 2017

The ACT Supreme Court in Canberra, where Haider Ali was refused bail.

• Students outsmarting school Netflix ban
• ‘Impressionable’ teen sentenced for ‘shocking’ kangaroo killing
• East Timor leaders to back whistleblower Collaery in spy case

A former Canberra public servant and alleged sex offender, who skipped the country midway through his trial in 2017, has failed in his bid for bail.

Former fugitive Haider Ali, 37, fled Australia for Pakistan in 2017 while on trial for rape and indecency.

The trial continued without him, and a jury cleared him of one indecency charge but was hung on all other counts.

Earlier this year, Ali was arrested at Heathrow Airport and was in October extradited back to Australia.

The ACT Supreme Court He has since pleaded guilty in the Magistrates Court for his failure to appear in court, and is due to be sentenced on December 9.

He is also awaiting a retrial for the sex offence charges the original jury was unable to reach verdicts on.

Ali’s barrister, Richard Thomas, on Wednesday argued strict his client could be bailed on strict conditions.

“For myself, I would have thought conditions could be a residence in the ACT, a curfew at that residence, reporting (to police) at least twice daily, surrendering any travel documents and undertaking not to apply for travel documents,” he said.

Ali could also have surrendered his drivers licence, which would have prevented him from renting a car, and could have agreed not to go near an airport, Mr Thomas said.

He said the case against Ali “has in one way been parsed by a jury” and “can’t be put as being a strong or overwhelming case”.

Ali, a dual citizen, returned to Pakistan to see his dying father, which Mr Thomas said was “clearly … the incorrect choice”.

Police refused Ali bail out of fear he could skip the country again, including if another family member died overseas.

Mr Thomas said Ali could better prepare for his trial if he was on bail.

Prosecutor Dean Sahu Khan said Ali’s story that he always planned to return to Australia was doubtful.

“In his desperation to get away and not return he abandoned his BMW in Sydney,” Mr Khan said.

He said it was “not only possible, but probable” that Ali would be jailed for failing to appear.

Justice John Burns said he “reached the firm conclusion” Ali should be refused bail.