Gold Coast police ramming: Ramin Kazemi released from watchhouse

AN Iranian refugee who rammed a police car in an attempt to be deported will be released from the watchhouse.

AN Iranian refugee who rammed a police car in an attempt to be deported will be released from the watchhouse.

The crash left two police officers with back and hip injuries.

Ramin Kazemi, who arrived in Australia by boat in 2013 before spending time in detention on Christmas Island, has spent the past 15 days in the Southport Watchhouse and attempted to plead guilty three times to the incident.

His plea of guilty to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, wilful damage, driving without a licence and two counts of serious assault of a police officer was accepted in the Southport Magistrates Court today.

Ramin Kazemi fronted the Southport Magistrates Court.

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Magistrate John Costanzo sentenced him to 18 months prison wholly suspended for two years and two years probation.

Prosecutor Caitlin Usher told the court police were on Peninsula Dr, Surfers Paradise about 2.30am on January 29 when Kazemi ran into the back of the police car.

“He showed no remorse and smirked and appeared pleased by his deliberate actions,” she said.

Ms Usher said the impact left the two officers with back and hip pain and caused more than $2,000 in damage to the police car.

The officers required time off work and had now returned on light duties.

Kazemi told his lawyer Lisa Searing he never set out to hurt anyone but was feeling hopeless due to a visa rejection.

“There is a very real possibility that returning (to Iran) could be a death sentence for him,” she said

“In that moment he felt so hopeless that the certainty of that was a better alternative to the uncertainty he was in.”

Ms Searing said Kazemi arrived in Australia on a boat six years ago and spent time immigration detention on Christmas Island before being sent to a mental health facility.

Mr Kazemi rammed into a police car.

The court was told he has since gained refugee status and been placed on a bridging visa.

Ms Searing, of Buckland Allen Criminal Lawyers, said in the lead up to the crash, Kazemi had been told his application for a permanent protection visa had been rejected because of a change in the law.

She said he was now waiting to hear if he had been successful in getting a three or five year protection visa.

Ms Searing said Kazemi had not been travelling any more than 30km/h.

The court was told Kazemi’s feeling of hopelessness had been compounded after he lost his job.

Ms Searing said Kazemi did not know where to turn to for help.

The case has captured the hearts of the city’s legal fraternity with Ms Searing acting pro bono and also helped Kazemi buy groceries.

Ashkan Tai Lawyers principal Ashkan Tai, who speaks Persian, offered to help translate so Ms Searing could speak with Kazemi.

Ms Searing said immigration were waiting on the outcome of the case to make a decision.

Kazemi has been given a list of charities and support groups which can offer him help.