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Freed High Court immigration detainee Temesgen Tsegay Gebreyonas granted bail

The sixth detainee charged following his release from immigration detention due to a High Court ruling has been granted bail in Melbourne and ordered to undertake mental health assessment.

People's safety 'compromised’ by an ‘incompetent government’

The sixth detainee charged following his release from immigration detention due to a High Court ruling has been granted bail.

Temesgen Tsegay Gebreyonas, 36, faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday charged with failing to comply with his visa conditions on December 8 after he was released from detention two weeks earlier.

The Eritrean-born man was arrested in Melbourne’s west on December 8 hours after he allegedly breached his curfew.

He has remained in custody since.

Under the conditions of his bridging visa, the man was ordered to abide by a curfew and wear a monitoring device.

A landmark High Court ruling prompted the release of 148 asylum seekers. Picture: Judith Kerr
A landmark High Court ruling prompted the release of 148 asylum seekers. Picture: Judith Kerr

The court heard Mr Gebreyonas has an “extensive” criminal history and was “acutely unwell”.

But the prosecution did not oppose bail, telling Magistrate Vincenzo Caltabiano the risks to the community could be ameliorated with certain conditions.

“The accused was released from immigration detention and within two weeks he has breached one of the visa conditions,” one prosecutor said.

“That does demonstrate the accused does have a tendency to disregard certain orders.”

Mr Caltabiano agreed that the risks could be ameliorated with the imposition of “appropriate conditions”.

“It’s always helpful to remember that there are risks in any situation,” he said.

“It’s not a case that all risks be ameliorated but rather that the risk be made an acceptable or tolerable one.”

He ordered Mr Gebreyonas to comply with all the conditions of his visa.

He also ordered that upon release the man be transported to the Royal Melbourne Hospital for a mental health assessment and to not leave before its completion.

Mr Gebreyonas, wearing a white T-shirt, appeared via video link from Melbourne Assessment Prison.

He will return to court on January 25.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-victoria/freed-high-court-immigration-detainee-temesgen-tsegay-gebreyonas-granted-bail/news-story/bf09b3f604d2e9e51c474f3aa855d32e