Mathiang Malok sentenced for stabbing two men in Nairobi Affair Lounge brawl in Adelaide’s CBD

A man who brought at least one knife to a violent brawl showed extraordinary aggression, a court has heard as his sentence was handed down.

Mathiang Malok as he was taken through Melbourne Airport in 2022 as he was returned to Adelaide by SA Police Operation Meld officers. Picture: 7NEWS

A man who showed “extraordinary aggression” when he stabbed two men in a CBD venue during an all-out brawl will be eligible for parole later this year.

Mathiang Malok, 26, stabbed the men during a fight in the Nairobi Affair Lounge on March 12, 2022.

During sentencing on Friday, Judge Joanne Tracey said she found Malok, from Kilburn, had been involved in a fight that broke out at 1.06am where several males began punching and kicking each another.

The court heard Malok became involved in the fight, but counsel for Malok told the court his offending had been “spontaneous” and was not premeditated – despite having attended the venue with at least one knife in his possession.

“You had come armed with at least one knife, and would appear to have resorted to its use without hesitation,” Judge Tracey said.

SA Police escort Mathiang Malok back to Adelaide from Melbourne to face charges. Picture: Brenton Edwards

“You demonstrated extraordinary aggression, and it can be inferred that you were prepared to use the knife all along.”

“The victims had posed no threat against you.”

Malok was found guilty of aggravated affray and two counts of aggravated cause harm with intent in a judge-alone trial in 2024.

The court previously heard the group attack on the two men took place after a music event.

CCTV showed Malok “bounding around, looking to stab multiple people” near a stairwell.

The court heard one of the victims was stabbed in the side of his chest, causing internal bleeding around his lung.

Malok was arrested in the Melbourne suburb of Epping in April 2022 and extradited back to SA, where he has been in custody since.

Operation Meld is a police taskforce set up to investigate youth gang crime.

Judge Tracey said Malok had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of trauma suffered at a young age in refugee camps – but also from learning about his family’s trauma.

A psychological report tendered to the court stated Malok, who was born in North Sudan, would have experienced heightened “sensitivity” to perceived threats due to his PTSD.

The court heard Malok had never taken drugs and felt sad when consuming alcohol.

Judge Tracey said since his arrest in 2022, Malok had been involved in violent incidents as he was struggling to regulate his anger – which he did not experience prior to his arrest.

Her Honour sentenced Malok to five year and eight months imprisonment, with a three-year, four-month non-parole period.

The sentence was backdated to his arrest date on April 6, 2022, meaning he will be eligible for parole in August this year.

Originally published as Mathiang Malok sentenced for stabbing two men in Nairobi Affair Lounge brawl in Adelaide’s CBD