Human rights activist Laura Allam and co-accused Mohammad Sharab face court over kidnapping and assault of Melbourne man

Laura Allam and Mohammad Sharab, accused of kidnapping a man, then stomping on his head and beating him with a hammer, have fronted Melbourne Magistrates Court.

Laura Allam has been charged with kidnap and assault related offences.

Human rights advocate Laura Allam, who is charged with the kidnapping and serious assault of a Melbourne man, has faced court along with two alleged co-conspirators.

Ms Allam, 27, Mohammad Sharab, 37, and a 24-year-old man whose identity is protected were arrested over the alleged abduction of a man in Melbourne’s western suburbs in ­February.

The three appeared before Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday for a committal case conference.

Magistrate Rohan Lawrence was told that fingerprint analysis, forensic examination and ­assessment of downloads from a phone would take some time.

Ms Allam attended the hearing virtually. Mr Sharab, wearing a black blazer and light-coloured jeans, and the third co-accused, sporting a grey blazer, appeared in person.

Police have alleged that Ms Allam lured the victim, a 31-year-old man, by discussing dinner plans on WhatsApp on the evening of February 16.

The pair agreed that Ms Allam would pick up the man at 9.50pm, but after driving for just 200m she is alleged to have parked her Volkswagen Golf on the side of the road.

Three masked men allegedly approached the victim, who remained in the passenger seat, and dragged him out of the car and kicked and stomped on him.

The victim was allegedly forced into the back of a white ute. He claimed to have recognised

Mohammad Sharab. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Mr Sharab and the other co-accused when they unmasked themselves.

The victim allegedly had his wrists, mouth, face, legs and eventually whole head bound by duct taped and was “severely ­assaulted” with a hammer.

Police allege Ms Allam was on the phone with one of the men and instructed them to “hit him hard”.

It is alleged that the man was again assaulted when he refused to give his mobile phone passcode. The victim told police he eventually gave the group his passcode.

The victim was left at Duke Street Reserve at Sunshine and attempted to flag down people to help him.

A witness picked him up and drove him to Sunshine Hospital, where he disclosed the incident to hospital staff who then called the police.

Ms Allam is the founder of the Al Jannah Foundation, which has organised Gaza fundraisers.

Suppression orders to protect the three alleged offenders remain. The matter was adjourned to July 12.