By Rebecca Peppiatt and Ezra Holt
An Iranian immigrant released under a contentious High Court ruling before five months later allegedly taking part in the violent assault and robbery of an elderly Perth couple, claims he intervened in the attack and tried to help.
Seyed Younes Tahami, 38, appeared in Joondalup Magistrates Court on Friday requesting to be released on bail while charges relating to the April 16 attack and robbery of Ninette and Philip Simons proceeded through the courts.
Ninette Simons was savagely assaulted in her home.Credit: Police Media
Tahami is accused of being one of three men who posed as police to enter the Simons’ home and steal $100,000 of cash and $87,000 worth of jewellery.
Ninette, 73, was also violently bashed during the robbery, leaving her with horrific injuries that sparked a national conversation around the release and monitoring of detainees.
But during the hearing Tahami’s lawyer told the court his client’s involvement in the incident was limited to being a “lookout guy” and that he only went into the house out of concern for Ninette.
“He’s provided a statement to police, he’s implicated himself,” the court heard.
“His role was limited to him being a lookout guy, he went into the house once because he was concerned about the complainant.
“The violent people in the house threatened him. He left and went to the park. He went there naively.”
The lawyer told the court his client was disgusted by what happened and that he feels betrayed, despite taking responsibility.
“He just thought he would get financial benefit … and that’s it.”
The court was told Tahami had a prior history of criminal behaviour that included 34 charges for drugs and possessing weapons, repeatedly driving while on a suspended licence and was charged with possessing a weapon just ten days before the attack and robbery of the Perth couple.
The court also heard he had a history of failing to comply with court orders and had been arrested and charged in the past for carrying large knives and flick knives in public places.
In 2022, he was also charged after taking a fork into a prison while visiting a friend.
He was released from Yongah Hill Detention Centre in November 2023 along with about 150 other detainees after the High Court outlawed indefinite detention.
Tahami’s lawyer told Joondalup Magistrates Court on Friday his client was an illegal immigrant who arrived in Australia by boat under “traumatic circumstances”.
He said Tahami, who speaks little to no English, escaped persecution in Iran and was granted a protection visa upon his arrival in Australia.
Joondlaup CourthouseCredit: Fairfax Media
The court heard his wife had also been charged with unlawfully obtaining property in relation to the Girrawheen incident after she was allegedly found wearing jewellery similar to what was taken during the robbery during a search warrant by police.
The court was told Tahami was formerly an “avid drug user” and had admitted that he supported his lifestyle by selling heroin to the community and that neither he or his wife had any other form of income.
The couple also live in Homes West accommodation and Tahami is her carer due to her chronic mental illness.
But Tahami’s lawyer said he was now “committed to being drug free” and had a Naltrexone implant, also claiming the 38-year-old had a history of being bullied in prison and carried weapons because he feared for his safety.
“He has never used those weapons,” he said.
Bail was denied after the magistrate said Tahami was a flight risk and had a high risk of reoffending.
“No conditions of bail can be reasonably imposed which would sufficiently remove these risks,” he said.
Tahami will come back before the courts on August 16 for legal advice.
With Nine News Perth
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