Bulbul Samy, 28: Overseas student allegedly raped woman in northern beaches hotel

An overseas student charged with raping a woman in a hotel room on the northern beaches has appeared in court.

An overseas student, facing a charge of having sexual intercourse with a woman without her consent, was granted strict conditional bail in Manly Local Court on Thursday. Picture: Monique Harmer

An overseas student charged with raping a woman in a hotel room on the northern beaches has been granted bail in Manly Local Court.

Bulbul Samy, 28, a Bangladeshi national in Australia on a student visa, is charged with having sexual intercourse without the woman’s consent in Manly on July 1 last year.

Samy, who lives at Chatswood, has been studying and working in Sydney for about two years, the court heard on Thursday.

The student, who the court was told wants to live permanently in Australia, was arrested on Wednesday by North Shore detectives after the woman gave a statement to police in November.

During the bail application, Magistrate Daniel Reiss was told that a series of text messages between Samy and the alleged victim would be part of a “strong prosecution case”.

Aerial view of Manly, looking south along The Corso. A man 28, was charged with having sexual intercourse with a woman without her consent, at a Manly hotel on July 1 last year. Picture: Supplied

The police prosecutor said the wording of some of the texts by Samy, sent after the alleged offence, were “damning”.

Samy’s barrister, Daniel Pace, said his client needed to be released on bail so he could properly prepare his defence of the charge.

Mr Pace said Samy had no prior criminal record in NSW or in his homeland Bangladesh and was receiving support from the Sydney Bangladeshi community.

Bulbul Samy will next appear at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court in April. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

In determining whether he should be released from custody, Magistrate Reiss said Samy faced a potential sentence, if convicted, of 14 years behind bars.

Mr Reiss also noted the police prosecutor’s submissions that Samy may be a flight risk and not turn up to court, and that he may attempt to interfere with witnesses prior to the matter possibly going to trial.

The magistrate described the prosecution case as “reasonably strong” but “not overwhelming”.

Mr Reiss granted Samy bail, with 14 conditions including that he hand over his passport, stick to a night time curfew, not attempt to contact the alleged victim and not enter the Willoughby or Strathfield local government areas.

He also ordered that Samy, who is yet to enter a plea, wear an electronic monitoring bracelet on his ankle.

The matter will be mentioned in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court in April.