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An immigration detainee whose release sparked national outrage after he was accused of brutally beating a grandmother is likely to plead not guilty to the alleged crime.
Majid Jamshidi Dukoshkan, 43, was released from custody following a controversial Supreme Court ruling in November.
Police charged him, two other men and a woman with impersonating police officers on April 16 to access Perth home of grandmother Ninette Simons, 73, and her 76-year-old husband, Philip.
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Once inside, they allegedly brutalized Simons and stole more than $200,000 worth of jewelry.
Dukoshkan is charged with aggravated assault, burglary, robbery, impersonating an official and illegal detention for gain.
He appeared briefly via video link in the Perth Magistrates Court in Joondalup on Monday, where two unrelated drug possession charges were first mentioned.
Dukoshkan confirmed his name to Magistrate Raylene Johnson and said he understood the drug charges.
He was remanded in custody at Hakea Prison for a police mention on all his charges on July 22.
His co-defendants – Joel Leslie Painter, 35, Seyed Younes Tahami, 37, and Emi Ruzel Sinjo, 48 – are also in custody and appeared briefly in the same court.
Painter and Tahami are also charged with aggravated assault, burglary and robbery, impersonating a public servant and unlawfully detaining a person for the purpose of obtaining a benefit.
Their cases were adjourned to June 28 and July 15, respectively.
Sino is charged with burglary, robbery and impersonating a public servant. Her case was adjourned until June 19.
Outside court, Dukoshkan’s attorney, Bill Harris, said his client would likely plead not guilty to charges stemming from the April 16 incident.
More than 150 detained immigrants were released after a Supreme Court ruling overturned 20 years of legal precedent, finding indefinite detention illegal when there is no prospect of resettlement.
Some of the group had serious convictions, including murder and rape, while others faced lesser charges.
They all served time behind bars before being placed in immigration detention.
Fierce political debate followed the court’s decision, forcing the government to quickly introduce legislation to monitor individuals and establish a new preventive detention regime in an attempt to bring some back into custody.
Suspected repeat offender
Under the orders, released detainees can be locked up or placed under strict surveillance, with 76 of the 153 released subject to electronic monitoring and 68 under curfew.
Home Affairs officials recently told a parliamentary hearing that 29 former detainees had re-offended and were charged with theft, assault, drug possession and breaching domestic violence orders.
Dukoshkan was out on bail for other offenses when he allegedly assaulted Simons.
Of the 29 charged with a further offence, 25 were under curfew at the time and 26 had ankle bracelets.
Several former detainees were also charged with visa violations.
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