William of the White Hand
Junior News Editor
Court hears camera covered in alleged taxi assaults
BELINDA FEEK
Last updated 05:00 09/04/2013
ice attacked in drunken riot No apology in naming-and-shaming spat
A Hamilton taxi driver allegedly used cardboard to cover-up in-vehicle security cameras as he sexually assaulted two teen girls.
Abdirahim Sheikh Mohamed Guled, 20, faces charges of sexual violation and kidnapping the first victim in March and kidnapping and indecent assault of the second victim this month.
Both victims are aged in their early teens, with one confirmed as 14.
Guled, of Somali descent who has been in New Zealand for the past 12 years, was supported in the Hamilton District Court yesterday by a large contingent of family and other members of the Somali community. Just like Maoris and Islanders.
He has been held in custody since his arrest late last week and yesterday applied for bail, which was refused after police argued that he remain in custody.
Although circumstances of the alleged offences are still unclear, the court heard that Guled was operating a taxi when the alleged offending occurred, on separate occasions.
He is then alleged to have taken them to the same location to sexually assault them, using cardboard to a cover security camera in his vehicle.
He was spotted by a security guard during his second alleged assault, the court heard.
Yesterday Community Magistrate Jack Best refused a request by Guled's lawyer, Louis Wilkins, for name suppression after the police argued that they wanted to make an appeal for other possible victims to come forward.
Mr Wilkins argued against a lift of name suppression until his next appearance next month, stating Guled should have more time to tell his wife and five children.
In a lengthy submission to get his client bail, Mr Wilkins said Guled wasn't a flight risk as he didn't have a New Zealand passport and all his family were in Hamilton.
He also argued a trial was unlikely to proceed until at least the end of the year and was unfair on his client who would fight the charges.
However, police said he had already been texting and trying to call the complainants - albeit before charges were laid - including one text which read: "what you did equated to more than a cab fare, special to me".
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/8524416/Court-hears-camera-covered-in-alleged-taxi-assaults
BELINDA FEEK
Last updated 05:00 09/04/2013
ice attacked in drunken riot No apology in naming-and-shaming spat
A Hamilton taxi driver allegedly used cardboard to cover-up in-vehicle security cameras as he sexually assaulted two teen girls.
Abdirahim Sheikh Mohamed Guled, 20, faces charges of sexual violation and kidnapping the first victim in March and kidnapping and indecent assault of the second victim this month.
Both victims are aged in their early teens, with one confirmed as 14.
Guled, of Somali descent who has been in New Zealand for the past 12 years, was supported in the Hamilton District Court yesterday by a large contingent of family and other members of the Somali community. Just like Maoris and Islanders.
He has been held in custody since his arrest late last week and yesterday applied for bail, which was refused after police argued that he remain in custody.
Although circumstances of the alleged offences are still unclear, the court heard that Guled was operating a taxi when the alleged offending occurred, on separate occasions.
He is then alleged to have taken them to the same location to sexually assault them, using cardboard to a cover security camera in his vehicle.
He was spotted by a security guard during his second alleged assault, the court heard.
Yesterday Community Magistrate Jack Best refused a request by Guled's lawyer, Louis Wilkins, for name suppression after the police argued that they wanted to make an appeal for other possible victims to come forward.
Mr Wilkins argued against a lift of name suppression until his next appearance next month, stating Guled should have more time to tell his wife and five children.
In a lengthy submission to get his client bail, Mr Wilkins said Guled wasn't a flight risk as he didn't have a New Zealand passport and all his family were in Hamilton.
He also argued a trial was unlikely to proceed until at least the end of the year and was unfair on his client who would fight the charges.
However, police said he had already been texting and trying to call the complainants - albeit before charges were laid - including one text which read: "what you did equated to more than a cab fare, special to me".
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/8524416/Court-hears-camera-covered-in-alleged-taxi-assaults
is coming! 14.88!