Accused kidnappers who allegedly tortured man with a hammer to stand trial

Three people who allegedly kidnapped a Melbourne man off the street and tortured him with a hammer have been ordered to stand trial in the County Court.

Laura Allam (middle) was allegedly involved in the kidnapping and torture of a man in Melbourne. Picture: Instagram

Three people who allegedly kidnapped a Melbourne man off the street and tortured him with a hammer have been ordered to stand trial in the County Court.

Laura Allam, Mohammad Sharab and Ibrahim Al Azhari are accused of snatching Nemer Abusamha in St Albans on February 16 last year.

This is the first time Mr Al Azhari has been named due to a suppression order.

The court heard Mr Abusamha told police in hospital just hours after the alleged brutal attack that he believed he knew the motive behind it.

Laura Allam is one of three people who will stand trial.

The Herald Sun reported this possible motive days after the incident but Victoria Police sent a statement to all media saying it was wrong.

“The first story stated the accused were alleged to have targeted the victim because the victim worked for an employer of a particular religious background,” the statement said.

“This is not correct. That allegation does not form part of the case against the accused and has not been alleged in any evidence or material before the court.”

A Nine Entertainment newspaper also ruled out the victim’s testimony after speaking to “two sources with direct knowledge of the incident.”

But on Tuesday it was revealed his claim was captured by police body-worn cameras who first responded to him in hospital and the footage is part of evidence tendered to court.

It is claimed the trio dragged Mr Abusamha into a ute, tied his hands and feet together and covered his entire head with duct tape.

Mr Abusamha was then allegedly driven to Duke Street Reserve in Sunshine where he claims he was severely assaulted with a hammer, kicked and had his head stomped on.

He suffered a broken finger on his left hand, a laceration to his head and bruising over his body.

“There was one issue raised with the motive regarding the offending which was presented by the Herald Sun,” Senior Constable Daniel Rees said in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

“I said ‘is the statement you’ve made to police true and correct and is that everything you know to the best of your knowledge’ and he said ‘yes’.”

Barrister Ran Zaydan, acting for Ms Allam, asked: “Do you accept in the body worn footage at the hospital he’s the one that tells police (about) the motive?”

Sen Cons Rees replied: “I don’t remember that footage.”

Ms Zaydan responds: “This is what is in the body worn footage.”

Mr Abusamha says he had his phone and watch stolen from him during the alleged attack.

He called his boss from his hospital bed saying “lock everything down” because he feared they might be after sensitive information about the company contained in his phone.

Magistrate Brett Sonnet said it was a “weak” case against Ms Allam but said there was “sufficient evidence” for all three to stand trial in the County Court.

All three pleaded not guilty to the charges and will appear next month for a directions hearing.

Originally published as Accused kidnappers who allegedly tortured man with a hammer to stand trial