‘Bow down’: angry court tirade from alleged bus abuser
Tom Wark and Max Aldred |
A middle-aged man accused of a “disgusting” Islamophobic attack on a 13-year-old girl has berated a judge after he was denied bail.
Omar Yassine made an eventful court appearance on Wednesday after being held by police overnight for allegedly verbally abusing the young Muslim schoolgirl on a Sydney bus.
Yassine admitted he had “hurled a few insults” at the girl, her friends and someone he thought was a teacher on Thursday but claimed he had not been the instigator.
“I didn’t threaten or intimidate anyone,” the 50-year-old, who did not want legal representation, said from the Bankstown Local Court dock on Wednesday.
“All I did was raise my phone … a person alleged I took a photo (of them).
“There were four students hurling threats and abuse at me.”
The police prosecutor said it was a strong case against Yassine, who the court heard had a 46-page criminal record.
Evidence that included a video recorded by the 13-year-old girl, known as Janna, on an inner-western Sydney bus showed Yassine calling her a barrage of names, the prosecutor said.
The year 8 student, who was wearing a hijab and her school uniform, was allegedly called a “f***ing terrorist” and an “immigrant dog” among other insults in the clip, later shared online.
Passengers and Janna reported the tirade to police after getting off the bus at Strathfield station.
Officers arrested Yassine at a home in nearby Greenacre after the 13-year-old and her mother went public about the incident on Tuesday.
He was charged with stalking and intimidation with intent to cause fear.
In the video, the teen told the man she was born in Australia and reminded him of her young age, but that didn’t stop the alleged abuse.
Janna and her mother told the ABC the incident was “really disgusting”.
In court, Yassine repeatedly interrupted the police prosecutor and acting Judge Garry Still.
The 50-year-old said he should be released on bail because he would be able to report to police and was not a risk of committing another serious offence.
Judge Still disagreed.
“This is a vulnerable victim, a 13-year-old on public transport,” the judge said.
“There are a number of matters on your record … and you are just off a community corrections order.”
Upon being refused bail, Yassine turned his disdain on the judge.
“You’re pre-empting my behaviour … how did you come up with that conclusion?” Yassine said as he was led off to the cells.
“Good work, Your Honour – bow down to them, mate.”
The abuse allegedly began after Janna stood up for another girl in a hijab who believed Yassine was taking photos of her without her knowledge.
Islamophobia envoy Aftab Malik told the ABC that perpetrators were increasingly targeting younger victims.
Strathfield state MP Jason Yat-sen Li said he was “horrified and deeply angry” about the incident, while congratulating the teen for speaking up.
“Let me be absolutely clear: Strathfield will not tolerate racist or Islamophobic abuse, particularly when it targets children,” he said.
Yassine was not required to enter a plea and will return to court at a later date.
AAP