A man alleged to have been part of a violent robbery months after he was controversially released from immigration detention went on to reoffend yet again, six days after he was released on bail, a Perth court was told.
Majid Jamshidi Doukoshkan, 45, is one of four men accused of an attack on Ninette and Philip Simons at their home in Girrawheen, in Perth’s northern suburbs in April 2024.
Doukoshkan was charged with aggravated burglary and aggravated assault with intent to rob which he has pleaded not guilty to.
He was part of a group of detainees released from Perth’s Yongah Hill Detention Centre in November 2023 after a landmark High Court ruling found indefinite detention for detainees who could not be deported was illegal.
Following the decision, the Albanese government rushed laws through parliament that gave the Commonwealth powers to electronically monitor released detainees.
But in April last year Doukoshkan convinced a Perth District Court judge to release him on home detention bail which he violated just six days later, the court heard. The 45-year-old failed a urine test and admitted to taking methamphetamine, the court was told and was placed back into custody.
On Thursday, lawyer Hamish Glenister made yet another application to the court for his client’s release from prison, telling judge Karen Shepherd that the case against his client was circumstantial.
“The victims aren’t able to identity him, there’s no forensic evidence, CCTV doesn’t put him at the scene,” Glenister told the court.
“I’m not suggesting it’s a very weak case, but Mr Doukoshkan does have a real prospect of acquittal.”
The court was told Doukoshkan had spent six years in prison previously for possession of drugs with intent to supply which is why his visa was revoked, and he was sent to immigration detention to await extradition.
Judge Shepherd said releasing Doukoshkan again was “a risk that the court should [not] be prepared to take.”
“It’s such a serious charge,” she said.
“It’s a charge where a number of steps have been taken and an offence of aggravated burglary was committed with three other co offenders. Actual violence was used and two complainants suffered bodily harm.
“Mr Doukoshkan is alleged on the prosecution’s case to have played a significant role in demanding keys to the safe, used a cord to tie the victim together, took a necklace from one of the victim’s necks with force, as well as two watches, kneeling on the victim as he was pinned to the ground.”
Doukoshkan was denied bail and will next appear before the court in May.
From our partners
Read the full article here
