Gabi Katrib makes bail bid over sexual touching allegations in Menai Marketplace

A man allegedly approached a random woman in a shopping centre, grabbed her hip and told her “you look cold, I want to take you to bed”, a court has heard.

Gabi Katrib was granted bail in Supreme Court. Picture: Facebook

A man allegedly approached a random woman in a shopping centre, grabbed her hip and told her “you look cold, I want to take you to bed”, a court has heard.

Gabi Katrib, 40, successfully applied for Supreme Court bail on Wednesday after he pleaded not guilty to charges of sexually touching another person without consent, common assault, intimidation and behaving in an offensive manner in a public place.

Police allege Katrib approached a woman in Menai Marketplace on May 25 after she had completed a workout at a gym.

Katrib alleged went up behind the woman, grabbed her on the hip and said, “you look cold, I want to take you to bed”.

A nearby security guard approached Katrib who allegedly became aggressive, and the guard thought Katrib could be affected by drugs based on his appearance, the court heard.

The alleged incident happened at Menai Marketplace shopping centre.

Police arrived a short time later and Katrib allegedly had an altercation with officers before he was arrested and taken to Sutherland police station.

He had to be taken to Sutherland Hospital to be sedated, the court heard.

During the bail application Katrib called out “I didn’t touch her”.

Justice David Davies said the alleged incident appeared to arise from Katrib’s mental health and drug issues and noted a Crown prosecutor did not oppose his release.

He said the nature of the sexual touching and the other charges did not appear to be very serious and Katrib, if convicted, would unlikely receive a custodial sentence.

The court heard Katrib had been in custody since his arrest and if he was not granted bail he could be on remand for seven months until his hearing which Justice Davies said was “unsatisfactory”.

He noted Katrib had a long criminal history, including nine counts of driving while disqualified, and had been dealt with under the Mental Health Act for matters of domestic violence.

Justice Davies said bail conditions could mitigate the risk with the court hearing Katrib attended Bankstown Community Mental Health Service to receive a monthly depot injection.

Katrib was granted bail to live at his home in Birrong with his father; he must report to police three times a week and he cannot leave the house between 8pm and 6am unless in the company of his father.

Katrib cannot drink alcohol or attend a venue where alcohol is sold; cannot take illegal drugs; cannot contact the alleged victim or prosecution witness and cannot enter Menai Marketplace.

He also must comply with his treatment regimen and his father had to deposit $3000 surety.

Katrib will defend the allegations at a Sutherland Local Court hearing on December 15.