Man charged after driver carjacked in CBD, followed by second carjack attempt
A man accused of leading police on a high-speed pursuit in Melbourne’s CBD after a violent carjacking told a court he was “very sick”, lived alone and had no friends. He was refused bail over the “extremely serious” charges.
Law & Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law & Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A man who allegedly carjacked a terrified driver at knifepoint in Melbourne’s CBD before leading police on a high-speed pursuit has been refused bail.
Ameer Islam Mohammad, 28, faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court this afternoon.
He is accused of threatening a man with a knife before stealing his Chrysler sedan worth $30,000 on Lonsdale St near King St just before 12.20am.
Mohammad led police on a high speed chase after he was spotted driving erratically on the wrong side of the road in Port Melbourne less than 10 minutes later.
The pursuit was called off for safety reasons.
The car was then spotted in Seaford at 1am following a reports of an attempted carjacking, where police made an arrest.
The victim, a 30-year-old Seaford man, was not injured.
Mohammad told the court he was “very sick”, lived alone and had no friends, fearing his condition would worsen if remanded.
“I don’t want to make excuses we all know at the end of the day there’s a bit of confusion … it’s better for me to be somewhere where I can find a way to not be around places that can make me worse,” he said.
He also told the court he would miss out on study if locked up.
“If I can’t get to where I’m studying that’s going to make me more stressed out,’’ he said.
Magistrate Ross Betts asked if he was getting medical treatment.
Mohammad responded he was but it made his condition “worse”.
Mr Betts told the court the charges were “extremely serious”, refusing an application for bail.
Mohammad was charged with carjacking, armed robbery, attempted carjacking, attempted armed robbery, conduct endangering life and numerous traffic offences.
He was remanded to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on August 19 and Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on August 22.