Hassan Faour charged with attempted armed robbery in Kogarah

Kogarah man Hassan Faour has been charged with attempted armed robbery after he left a pub earlier this month. Find out what happened in court.

A man has allegedly held up a person in an attempted robbery in a Kogarah underground walkway during a terrifying late night ordeal, a court has heard.

Kogarah’s Hassan Faour, 56, was granted bail when he fronted Sutherland Local Court on Thursday on serious charges.

In documents tendered court, police allege Faour attended Bank Hotel in Kogarah, where he was captured on CCTV.

He then allegedly left the hotel and accosted a person in an underground walkway that was only a short distance from Faour’s home between 3am and 3.15am on May 8, the court heard.

Police allege Faour held a pistol before the alleged victim was assaulted, and Faour attempted a robbery, the documents said.

Kogarah man Hassan Faour was granted bail in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday after he was charged with attempted armed robbery. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

The nature of the alleged victim’s injuries were not detailed.

The alleged victim described the clothing of the attacker to police and investigators allegedly found it matched Faour’s clothing depicted in CCTV.

The clothes were recovered in a search warrant carried out the next morning.

However, police did not find a pistol.

Faour was arrested at the intersection of Railway Street and Station Street in Kogarah about 8.30am on Wednesday.

He allegedly had a knife in his bag, oxycodone and a bank card that did not belong to him.

Faour was charged with assault with the intention to rob while being armed with a dangerous weapon, having custody of a knife in a public place, possessing a restricted substance and unlawfully obtaining goods kept in his personal custody.

In court, the police prosecutor opposed bail noting the case against Faour appeared strong and due to the CCTV footage and clothing recovered.

The prosecutor said Faour would likely receive a full time sentence of imprisonment if convicted of the robbery charge.

Faour’s lawyer Mohommed Bazzi said the CCTV footage was not enough to convict his client, noting Faour made admissions to police that the man in footage resembled him but it was not clear.

Mr Bazzi said Faour denied the attempted robbery allegation, claiming he returned straight home after leaving the pub.

Mr Bazzi also noted no firearm was located during the search warrant and suggested the alleged victim may have been in shock or fear and might have thought a pistol was used.

He noted his client needed to be at liberty to prepare his defence and watch the CCTV footage, adding he would spend months on remand because he was unlikely to be given a trial date before the middle of next year.

The court heard the 56-year-old man worked at a carwash in Matraville and had three adult children, one of whom was intellectually disabled and required his care.

Mr Bazzi said Faour had ongoing medical problems from being hit by a car while riding his bicycle last year, and continued to suffer from epilepsy making him unable to drive.

He also noted his client cooperated with police.

Magistrate Philip Stewart believed the prosecution case was strong but given no firearm was seized he granted Faour bail.

Faour must live at his Kogarah home, abide by a 9pm to 6am curfew, not drink alcohol or take illicit drugs and present himself at the door when police attended.

The case was adjourned to July 14.