‘Everyone gets out eventually’: Skaf rapist parole likely due to Delta woes

Loathed gang rapist Mohammed Skaf appears certain to be released on strict parole because of the Delta outbreak in NSW.

“Horrendous” gang rapist Mohammed Skaf appears almost certain to be released on strict parole — partly because the Covid Delta outbreak is forcing the hand of authorities.

The criminal that shocked Australia has spoken from prison during a brief court hearing, pledging to earn his limited freedom in the coming days.

The 37-year-old, under his older brother Bilal, led the infamous Skaf gang rapes against young women just before the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Their attacks earned the Skafs and their fellow rapists decades in prison each that were reduced on appeal.

The younger Skaf became eligible for parole in mid-2019 and has repeatedly been denied release due to his limited insight into his crimes.

But the clock is ticking — on January 1, 2024, his entire sentence will be finished and he will leave custody.

Skaf, pictured as a teenager after his arrest.

Skaf already posed an unenviable mission for the State Parole Authority; the deeply loathed and problematic rapist must be safely reintegrated before 2024, when he can walk free without supervision.

Judge David Frearson, SC, denounced the offending as “horrendous” during a brief hearing at the parole authority on Friday.

But, the judge said, Sydney’s coronavirus outbreak had now also cut off their best avenue for Skaf‘s rehabilitation — external prison leave programs.

“There were, at one stage, two viable pathways — one has been extinguished by Covid-19,” Judge Frearson said.

“The other leaves reintegration via parole … Everyone gets out eventually.”

The authority heard the specialist advisers of the Serious Offenders Review Council and Community Corrections both want Skaf to be paroled so he could be monitored outside prison.

The State of NSW had previously opposed his release to parole but, on Friday, its lawyer said it could no longer stand in the way given the pandemic had cut off their preferred option.

Judge Frearson told Skaf he would not make a formal decision once the inmate had completed the RUSH program which is designed to teach life skills instead of “maladaptive” coping mechanisms.

Police surveillance images showing Skaf, left, attempting to lure a group of girls off a beach moments before his arrest.

“We been doing it three times a week. We got one more week,” Skaf told Judge Frearson.

The judge told Skaf to be “very, very careful” to not get in any more trouble and he would need to “strictly comply” with any conditions if he was released to parole after the course was completed.

“Of course,” the rapist replied.

The authority heard Skaf would be subject to numerous conditions - most notably an electronic ankle monitor that would keep tabs on his whereabouts.

The Daily Telegraph understands he would also have to submit a daily schedule for his movements, would have to undergo constant psychological treatment, would not be allowed to contact victims or co-offenders among other conditions on his release.

Judge Frearson noted the parole authority “has no control over the sentence imposed by the court”, all it could do was apply the law and it was ”in everybody‘s interest” Skaf completes his course behind bars.