Mohammed Skaf: Plea to NSW government to deny gang rapist parole

Labor has called on the NSW Government to oppose the proposed parole for Mohammed Skaf, who could walk from jail within weeks.

The NSW Government has been slammed for its decision not to oppose parole for notorious gang rapist ­Mohammed Skaf who is preparing to walk from jail within weeks.

Labor’s corrections spokeswoman Tara Moriarty called on the government to urgently reverse its decision and block Skaf’s return to the community.

Convicted rapist Mohammed Skaf was 18 when he helped lead a gang of a dozen other men who raped at least six schoolgirls, some as young as 14, in Sydney in 2000.

The 38-year-old has spent the past two decades in prison for his part leading a gang of a dozen other men who raped at least six schoolgirls.

“Mohammed Skaf is the worst of the worst, has shown no remorse and should serve his full sentence which ends in 2024,” Ms Moriarty said.

“He shouldn’t be released under the cover of Covid.

“The government should intervene and stop his proposed parole now while the State Parole Authority is considering it.”

Skaf has been denied parole three times since 2018 when he was first eligible for release.

He was sentenced to a maximum of 22 years and 11 months, after he and his older brother Bilal Skaf led a gang of men who raped at least six schoolgirls, some as young as 14, in parks and toilets across Sydney in 2000.

Labor corrections spokeswoman Tara Moriarty has called for the NSW Government to deny parole to Sakf. Picture: AAP Image/Steven Saphore

The State Parole Authority (SPA) said it would parole Skaf because its preferred release plans – supervised day leave from prison – could not happen during the Covid outbreak.

“There were, at one stage, two ­viable pathways – one has been extinguished by Covid-19,” Judge David Frearson SC said. “The other leaves reintegration via parole.

“Everyone gets out ­eventually.”

Gang rapist Mohammad Skaf is led to prison van from Sydney’s Supreme Court after having a further seven years added to his sentence after he was found guilty of another rape. Picture: Graham Crouch

Judge Frearson will not make a final decision on Skaf’s release until he completes a prison course known as RUSH (Real Understanding of Self-Help). He must also comply with the Child Offenders’ Register.

Skaf unexpectedly spoke up about the RUSH course during the hearing, telling the judge: “We’ve been doing it three times a week now, so we’ve got one more week and it will be finished.”

The state submission to the SPA acknowledged some change of mind, with Mohammed Skaf stating “perhaps” the victim in the Gosling Park rape did not provide consent.

As well as reviewing Skaf’s prison records, the SPA also has to consider the views of Skaf’s victims, now grown women.

Upon his release, Skaf would be electronically monitored and registered as a child sex offender.

Bilal Skaf was handed a 31-year prison sentence and is eligible for parole in 2033.