Third man in court over Arncliffe Liberal Party brawl
A THIRD man has appeared in court charged in connection with a brawl at a Liberal Party meeting.
Southern Courier
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A THIRD man has appeared in court charged in connection with a brawl at a Liberal Party meeting.
Police allege Mohommed Zahoui assaulted Remone Gorgio and continued to attack him after he fell to the floor.
He appeared at Sutherland Local Court this morning charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm while in the company of others.
Liberal Party member Rami Abdallah has previously appeared in the same court charged with assault in relation to the brawl along with Mohammed Reda, who is charged with actual bodily harm, assaulting an officer in the execution of their duty and resisting an officer in the execution of their duty.
Police were called to Naji’s Cafe in Arncliffe on June 18 after it is alleged two warring Bayside Liberal Party factions were involved in a brawl.
Police believe the incident may have been “racially and gender bias-motivated,” court documents show.
Mr Zahoui was charged on August 21 for his alleged involvement in the brawl.
He is on bail and required to report to police every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
He is also prohibited from contacting Remone Gorgio and must not go within 1km of Naji’s Cafe, where the brawl took place.
The cafe is owned by Bayside councillor Michael Nagi.
The original bail conditions included an 8pm to 5am curfew for him to remain at his Wolli Creek home. However, this has since been removed.
Documents submitted to court show that the police recommended the bail conditions, stating Mr Zahoui had a criminal history including a charge for assault occasioning actual bodily harm back in 2009.
Officers also said the conditions were necessary given the seriousness of the alleged offence.
“The accused assaulted another male … and continued assaulting the male when he fell to the floor,” police allege in court documents.
In documents submitted to court police also said they have 16 independent witnesses as well as CCTV and video evidence relating to Mr Zahoui’s case.
Mr Reda, who was in court last month, has pleaded not guilty to all three of his charges.
Police have previously told the court that the Arncliffe Aurora Football Club coach, of Wollongong Road, Arncliffe, has a history of violence.
He is on bail and must report to police every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and not contact his alleged victim, Remone Gorgio.
He must also not enter Naji’s Cafe.
Mr Abdallah, of Arncliffe, is accused of assaulting Mena Goubran in what police have described as a “violent” incident.
As part of his bail conditions Mr Abdallah must report to police every Friday and must remain in his home between 7pm and 6am each night.
He has also been forced to hand in his passport and is banned from international travel. He must not contact Mena Goubran, anyone who may be asked to give evidence or his co-accused, Mohammed Reda.
He is also barred from entering Naji’s cafe.
He is yet to enter a plea.
Mr Abdallah is a Liberal Party member and principal at Prestige Property Group real estate firm in Arncliffe. He is the former president of Rockdale City Chamber of Commerce and has been involved in politics for a number of years.
In 2012 he stood unsuccessfully as an independent for Rockdale City Council.
It is understood he wanted to stand for Liberals in the elections for the newly formed Bayside Council but missed out on selection to Ron Bezic, who is a Liberal councillor for Bexley ward on Bayside Council.
All three men are due back before court next month.
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