Human rights advocate Laura Allam, Mohammad Sharab revealed as alleged violent kidnappers

The identity of a man and woman who allegedly kidnapped and tortured their victim with a hammer can be made public once again after a gag order on the media was overturned.

The identity of Mohammad Sharab can be made public once again after a gag order was imposed on the media publicly naming the man and his co-accused Laura Allam. Picture: supplied

A woman who is alleged to have orchestrated the kidnap and torture of a Melbourne man asked the victim out for dinner before he was ambushed, it can be revealed.

Laura Allam, a prominent 27-year-old who is the CEO of Al Jannah Foundation – a non-profit humanitarian organisation that aims to “raise Lebanon back to its feet” – messaged the 31-year-old victim on WhatsApp about going out.

Police allege the 27-year-old woman arrived at his home at 9.50pm on February 16 and picked up the man, who works for a Jewish employer, in her Volkswagen Golf.

But she only travelled a short distance down the road before stopping. Court documents state Allam said she was bloated, that her pants were too tight and undid the button on them. She then got out of the vehicle and the victim was immediately surrounded by three masked men.

The victim was allegedly dragged out of the vehicle where he was kicked and stomped on, including to his head and back, before being bundled into a white ute.

Human rights advocate Laura Allam has been charged with the alleged kidnap and assault of a man using a hammer. Picture: Supplied

It is alleged Ms Allam “calmly observed the assault” taking place.

He then had his hands and legs tied and duct tape put over his entire head.

When the duct tape was removed from his eyes, the victim allegedly recognised a former flatmate, Mohammad Sharab, 37, who is regularly seen speaking at pro-Palestine rallies in Melbourne’s CBD.

The victim also knew the identity of a third attacker, but a suppression order prevents the Herald Sun from naming him.

Police are continuing to hunt for an unidentified fourth assailant.

The victim allegedly heard Ms Allam’s voice on a phone call to his attackers, who allegedly said “hit him hard”.

He was then driven to Duke Street Reserve in Sunshine where he was held down and beaten with a hammer until he gave them his iPhone 13 and Apple watch and their respective passcodes.

The victim was struck to the head with the hammer and had at least one of his fingers broken in the brutal assault.

“(The victim) was severely assaulted with a hammer and was continually told (by his attackers) that they were going to kill him,” court documents state.

Mohammad Sharab is also accused of the kidnapping and violent assault of a 31-year-old man. Picture: Instagram

Ms Allam is also accused of stomping on his head.

A good Samaritan found the victim staggering the streets of Braybrook after the attack and took him to Sunshine Hospital. He phoned his boss, who is Jewish, from his hospital bed outlining that the attackers may use the sensitive information on his phone to attack the company.

He urged his employer to make sure everything was locked down.

The Herald Sun understands the victim sustained fractures to his back and fingers, bruising to his shoulders and hands and suffered lacerations to his head causing heavy bleeding.

Victoria Police has not outlined a motive, but say it was not carried out based on ethnicity.

But Louis Andrews, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, told the court last week: “Circumstances may change.”

Ms Allam was arrested at Bunnings Warehouse in Sunshine on February 23. Mr Sharab was arrested the same day at his home address. The third man was arrested on February 26.

All three accused gave no comment interviews to police.

However, it is understood detectives have obtained CCTV of part of the bashing and the cars travelling in convoy. Comprehensive phone data will also be used as evidence.

Police also allege a person linked to one of the accused attended the victim’s house to offer $10,000 and a new mobile phone and Apple watch if he dropped his statements.