Major update on alleged rape case of Toowoomba schoolgirl

There has been a major update in the court case of a Toowoomba man accused of luring a schoolgirl off the internet with the promise of a vape before allegedly sexually assaulting her in his car.

Salah Sulaiman Almuhama at Toowoomba court on February 2, 2024.

A Toowoomba man accused of raping a 14-year-old girl in his car after meeting her online has been committed to stand trial at the Toowoomba District Court.

In early 2023, police charged Salah Sulaiman Almuhama with rape, supplying a smoke product to a child, and exposing himself/indecent treatment of a child under 16.

When the rape case was committed to trial on Monday, March 2024, Mr Almuhama chose not to enter a plea.

Salah Sulaiman Almuhama at Toowoomba court on February 2, 2024.

During previous mentions of the case, the Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard Almuhama allegedly organised to meet the girl in person to give her a vape.

The pair allegedly met through Snapchat and had been chatting through the mobile phone application for about a month.

On Monday, the court heard seven statements, including the victim’s and police officers’, formed part of the prosecution’s brief of evidence.

Solicitor Jason Grant said it was accepted to be a prima facie case, and he would explain, “legal aid funding and alibi to Mr Almuhama”.

Salah Sulaiman Almuhama and his lawyer at Toowoomba court on February 2, 2024, after a failed application to cross-examine an alleged child victim of sexual assault during a pre-trial committal hearing.

A date was not set for when the case would next be mentioned before the court.

Mr Almuhama remains in the community on strict bail conditions, which includes a monitoring ankle bracelet.