Gang rapist Mohammed Skaf to walk on strict parole this week

Notorious gang rapist Mohammed Skaf will walk from jail on strict parole by the end of this week to live with his family amid community outrage that he should ever be released.

Notorious gang rapist Mohammed Skaf will walk from jail on strict parole by the end of this week to live with his family amid community outrage that he should ever be released.

He will be electronically monitored 24 hours a day and face some of the toughest parole conditions while he is expected to swap his jail cell for a renovated granny flat in the garden of his family’s western Sydney home.

Skaf‘s mother, former cleaner Baria, and his father, rail worker Mustapha, had been visiting Mohammed almost weekly in the 21 years he has been behind bars before Covid hit and prison visits were cancelled.

“The family has been unwavering in their support for him,” a source said.

Convicted rapist Mohammed Skaf will walk from jail on strict parole this week.

Neighbours described his mother as “lovely” and said she was excited about him coming home.

“She is all about family and wants both her boys home,” the neighbour said.

Mohammed Skaf — who was 17 when he joined his brother in leading the series of atrocious rapes in 2000 on four women, one of whom was sexually assaulted more than 40 times by 14 men — has been eligible for parole since 2018.

He had been knocked back from release a number of times partly because he had shown no remorse for his crimes and maintained that his victims had consented.

The former District Court judge, Judge Michael Finnane QC, who originally jailed him for 32 years, told The Daily Telegraph last month of his fears that may pose a continuing threat by not recognising his criminal behaviour. The judge had described the attacks as “worse than murder”.

Community Corrections recommended his release, confirming there had been a “significant improvement” in Skaf’s behaviour and attitude towards his offending, State Parole Authority said in a statement announcing his parole on September 17. He has to be released by October 8.

Convicted gang rapist Mohammed Skaf in a mug shot.

Skaf’s sentence was slashed to 19 years with a non-parole period of 11 by the Court of Criminal Appeal before he was given another 15 years with a minimum of seven and a half years over the second gang rape.

That meant a total of 22 years 11 months and 30 days with a non-parole period of 16 years 11 months and 30 days.

His sentence will end on January 1, 2024 and any breaches of his tough parole conditions means he will be back inside.

Bilal Skaf, originally sentenced to 55 years’ jail, is serving 38 years with a non-parole period of 32 after appealing.

Another neighbour of the Skaf family said she was worried about his release.

“I’ve got two young kids and I don’t want them near him when he (Mohammed) comes out,” she said.

“It’s not going to be the same anymore, when he is released. I heard it was imminent. I’ll just have to make sure I keep my kids inside.”