By Perry Duffin
An angry magistrate has refused to release a Coles worker who allegedly sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl on an escalator of Bondi Westfield in full view of CCTV, saying women should be able to “feel safe” in the city’s shopping centres.
Md “Mohammed” Abdul Shadak Papon was on Monday marched into Waverley Local Court by court sheriffs and placed in the dock.
Md Papon allegedly raped a 15-year-old girl in Bondi Junction Westfield while in his Coles uniform, in full view of CCTV.Credit: Oscar Colman
The Bangladeshi national on a student visa was still wearing the Coles polo shirt he was arrested in.
Papon, 27, allegedly approached the girl and put his hands down her pants as she stood on an escalator at Westfield on Friday evening. He was arrested at Bondi Junction station on Sunday afternoon.
Papon was charged with six counts of intentional sexual touching of a child and one count of grooming.
Most seriously, he was charged with one count of aggravated sexual intercourse with a child under 16, which carries a maximum 20 years in prison if he is convicted.
Magistrate Michael Barko, reading from the police documents on Monday, said the alleged attack had been captured on CCTV and that the police case was strong.
“He’s here at privilege of the Australian people, on what’s said to be a student visa, from Bangladesh,” Barko said.
“They might do things differently in Bangladesh than they do in Sydney, Australia … We can’t have people allegedly touching up 15-year-old girls in our shopping centres.”
The court heard Papon is married and is his family’s sole bread-winner as his wife studies. He has no criminal history in Australia.
Papon wanted to be released because his wife might self-harm if he did not come home, he told his Legal Aid lawyer.
But Papon refused to elaborate about the concerns for his wife’s safety, or put anyone in contact with her, his lawyer told the court.
Barko said he appreciated Papon’s wife may have issues.
“[But] I care about the public of NSW and 15-year-old girls who are allegedly sexually assaulted,” he said.
“We all want to walk through our shopping centres and feel safe.”
He refused Papon’s release application. Papon, who is on remand, was ordered to return to court in February.
Papon asked if he could be heard, but his lawyer urged him to be silent as he was led away by sheriffs.
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