A Star News Group Publication
7 July 2014
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Monday, 7 July 2014
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■ Refugee’s threat to government workers and office stemmed from ...
Burning issues A TRAUMATISED former asylum-seeker was last week placed on a good behaviour bond after threatening Department of Human Services staff in Dandenong with a bottle of petrol and a cigarette lighter. Bahaa Altarfy, 28, had threatened to “burn down the place” if he didn’t secure a public housing property “by the end of the day” during a meeting at the Thomas Street building on 29 August, police prosecutor Tanique McFarlane told Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Monday. Altarfy returned for an appointment on 2 January “with the tools to facilitate the threat”, producing a water bottle containing petrol and lighter. Using an interpreter, he told “scared” DHS workers that the bottle contained petrol. “You should know what happens,” he said through an interpreter - prompting an officer to push the duress button. Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said “the circumstances in which you came to Australia are highly relevant to the circumstances you’re in now”. Before his arrival, Altarfy had been under “constant threat” from an Iraqi militia and the “subject of severe abuse” in his homeland. Altarfy fled Iraq after the same militia group killed his brother. While coming to Australia, Altarfy survived a “very tragic incident” at Christmas Island. Many of those who died were relatives and close friends of his. Mr Vandersteen found those events led to the accused’s “multitude of mental health issues” and to his “unacceptable” threats to DHS staff.
“You’ve witnessed things that no human should witness such as bombings, shootings and other brutalities. There is irony in what you did, given your background in that you yourself have been threatened to be hurt by others.” Altarfy’s lawyer said her client was “clearly in a distressed state” at the time of his threats. “He thought DHS wasn’t paying attention to him. He didn’t intend to hurt other people, necessarily, but for people to pay attention to him. He is very remorseful for what happened during that day. “He has a lot of supports to ensure it doesn’t happen again.” The court was told Altarfy was getting neardaily mental health treatment and counselling for torture, trauma and gambling issues from Foundation House, ERMHA and an Arabicspeaking psychologist. Constable McFarlane said the prosecution was seeking a community corrections order rather than a good behaviour bond, though acknowledging Altarfy had endured a “horrible history”. Mr Vandersteen said adding a community corrections order might over-burden the accused and cause his extensive support system to “fall over”. Altarfy was convicted and handed a twoyear good behaviour bond on condition that he continued treatment and counselling at Foundation House and ERMHA. Mr Vandersteen said: “You must recognise there are many people willing and able to assist you.”
An emerging cafe culture BERT Glinka and Brendan D’Amelio are bringing Melbourne cafe culture into the heart of Dandenong. And the Young Uncles pair is being rewarded for their ingenuity, receiving cash from City of Greater Dandenong to help the Thomas Street eatery thrive. Picture: GARY SISSONS See page 51 for the full story. 122748
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