Junior Filo, Kalolo Kalolo face court over alleged Mt Druitt robbery
Two men accused of sitting on a bike’s front wheel before threatening to punch him and then throwing a beer can at the rider as he ran away have faced court for the first time.
Penrith
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Two men who police allege stole a bicycle from a food delivery driver in Mt Druitt on Sunday afternoon have faced court.
Junior Filo, 24, of Fairfield West, and Kalolo Kalolo, 25, of Mt Druitt, each faced Penrith Local Court on a charge of robbery in company on Monday morning.
Police allege Muhammad Umar was on his way to collect food when he was approached by Filo and Kalolo at Dawson Mall at about 4pm.
They will allege Kalolo stood in front of Mr Umar’s Bolt bicycle, grabbed the handlebars, and sat on the front wheel to prevent him from moving before threatening to punch him if he didn’t get off the bike.
Filo allegedly also threatened Mr Umar with violence.
Police will allege Kalolo then grabbed Mr Umar’s phone and threw it on the ground, before grabbing him by the jacket and pulling him off the bike.
He also allegedly threw an empty beer can at Mr Umar and chased him a short distance while Filo allegedly rode the bike towards Mt Druitt train station.
Police later apprehended the two men where Filo was seen riding the stolen bike.
Kalolo did not apply for bail in court, and it was formally refused by Magistrate Margaret McGlynn.
During a bail hearing for Filo, the prosecution said they had a “strong case” against him.
“The applicant is captured in part on CCTV shortly after the robbery, and he was located by police riding the bicycle in company with the co accused,” he said.
“There’s also some potential forensic evidence on the phone and jacket as well.”
He also raised concerns that Filo would fail to appear at future court appearances given the seriousness of the charge, and that the safety of the community could be prejudiced by further offending.
Filo’s Legal Aid lawyer, Hannah Osborne, entered a plea of not guilty, and said there were bail conditions that could sufficiently ameliorate the prosecution’s concerns.
“The main concern is the community, and I submit that could be addressed by a residential condition in Fairfield West, and a house-arrest condition to not leave unless with his mother or sister,” she said.
“I also propose a condition to not drink or do drugs, and Mr Filo could provide a surety of $500.”
Magistrate McGlynn granted Filo strict conditional bail, including a condition that he is not allowed within five kilometres of the Mt Druitt CBD.