Human rights advocate Laura Allam accused of kidnap has bail conditions reduced

Human rights advocate Laura Allam, who has been charged over the kidnap and assault of a man in Melbourne, has had her bail conditions reduced.

Laura Allam has been charged with kidnap and assault offences.

Human rights advocate Laura Allam, who has been charged with kidnapping and assaulting a 31-year-old man in Melbourne, has appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court where she has had her bail conditions reduced.

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

Ms Allam appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in person on Thursday wearing a leather trench coat, black hijab, beige scarf, jeans, gold watch and black boots.

She sat with her hands crossed on her lap, listening attentively, as the court heard an application to vary the conditions of her bail, which she was granted on the evening of her arrest on 23 February.

Ms Allam’s lawyer, Ran Zaydan, said responsibilities made it difficult for Ms Allam to meet her current bail conditions, which included an 8pm curfew and the requirement to report to a police station three times per week.

“Mr Allam comes before the court with no prior criminal history, she has no other pending matters,” Ms Zaydan said.

The prosecution opposed the variation to bail, pointing to the strength of its case and the serious nature of the charges.

“This is extremely serious offending with a strong prosecution case,” the prosecutor said.

“There’s also substantial forensic evidence in support of the application.”

Magistrate Donna Bakos granted the application to vary Ms Allam’s bail conditions, extending Ms Allam’s curfew to 9pm and reducing her reporting requirements to once per week.

Magistrate Bakos said while there was “no question that the alleged offending is extremely serious,” Ms Allam had no prior criminal history and had a number of person circumstances which she considered in line with the legislative framework, along with the fact that Ms Allam had complied with her bail conditions for the past six months.

“In my view, there is very little difference in a curfew that commences at 8pm to one that commences at 9pm. I don’t see there would be any increased risk that the applicant Allam would endanger the safety or welfare of any other person,” she said.

Laura Allam (second from left). Picture: Instagram

Magistrate Bakos also granted the application from Ms Allam’s co-accused, the 24-year-old man, to extend his curfew and reduce his reporting days from three to one.

The man, who appeared in person in court wearing a black coat, also had his application opposed by the prosecution, with informant senior constable Daniel Rees telling the court the man had failed to report eight times since he was granted bail on 26 February.

According to Victoria Police documents before the court, it’s alleged that on the afternoon of 16 February, Ms Allam communicated with the victim, a 31-year-old man, via WhatsApp, about going out for dinner that evening, and arranged to pick him up at 9.30pm.

After picking the victim up, Ms Allam drove approximately 200 metres before she stopped her white Volkswagen Golf, stated her pants were too tight and that she was bloated, undid the button of her pants and exited the vehicle.

It’s alleged the victim was then approached by three masked men who dragged him out of the car and assaulted him by kicking and stomping on his back and head.

The victim was then forced into a white ute, where it’s alleged he “instantly identified” one of his attackers as his former friend and housemate Mohammad Sharab, and another as the 24-year-old man, when they took their masks off.

The victim allegedly had his wrists and whole head duct taped, was severely assaulted with a hammer and was continually told by the three men that they were going to kill him.

It’s alleged the victim heard Ms Allam’s voice on speaker phone to the 24-year-old man, and that she told him to “hit him hard”.

The victim was driven to Duke Street Reserve in the suburb of Sunshine where he was allegedly assaulted with a hammer and held down before he provided his mobile phone and apple watch pass codes.

The victim was then allegedly further assaulted by Ms Allam who stomped on his head, and was advised that if he reported the incident to police, he would be killed.

The victim was left at the reserve before a witness picked him up and drove him to Sunshine Hospital, where he disclosed the incident to hospital staff who called the police.

Mr Allam and Mr Sharab are due to face court over the matter on 5 September.