NEWS
Debt attack By Cam Lucadou-Wells A 21-year-old hired painter has pleaded guilty to brutally bashing his employer into unconsciousness during a dispute over unpaid wages, a court has heard. Rahmatulla Yazdani, without invitation, knocked on the front door of his boss's family home in Lynbrook on a Saturday afternoon in August. The pair argued outside the house over the alleged $1100 non-payment, with the boss pushing Yazdani in the chest and challenging him to fight, Dandenong Magistrates' Court was told on 22 October. Yazdani struck the boss to the forehead with an unknown object, then repeatedly punched the victim to the head, police alleged. He continued hitting even as the boss lay on the ground unconscious, police told the court. When finished, Yazdani flicked his cigarette to the ground, and was driven away in a waiting car. An ambulance was called by a witness. The victim was transported to Dandenong Hospital slipping in and out of consciousness. He suffered a deep laceration and fracture to his brow, a laceration to the bridge of his nose that required stitches as well as seven broken teeth. The dental repair bill was at least $6800, the court heard. Yazdani, sporting a significantly swollen and bruised right hand, was interviewed by police via an interpreter the next day. He broke down and cried when shown the extent of the victim's injuries, the court heard. "If he hadn't touched me I wouldn't have fought him," he told police. Defence lawyer Siva Kandasamy told the court that Yazdani was provoked, unarmed and struck the victim only once. Yazdani had been working for the boss for
four months and was constantly met with "excuses" over not being paid. He had earlier approached police for help but was told it was a civil dispute - and he was unlikely to succeed due to being a sub-contractor, Mr Kandasamy said. The Iranian-born refugee had a severe intellectual disability that impaired his reasoning and coping skills. "He doesn't know how to manage stress and that's a contributing factor," Mr Kandasamy said. Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said Yazdani must have struck the victim "many, many times", given the extent of the injuries. He noted Yazdani was on corrections orders at the time for two counts of recklessly causing serious injury in 2016. In those previous cases, the two victims had each suffered broken faces. He had failed to do the required unpaid work on the orders but had otherwise engaged well with behavioural programs, the court heard. "The community corrections order hasn't achieved the outcome you would hope because you're here today with a victim that's suffered a high-end injury," Mr Vandersteen said. "If not for the intellectual disability, he'd be looking at years of jail. "He's incredibly violent when he offends." Yazdani accepted Mr Vandersteen's sentence indication of jail followed by a CCO. He was issued a three-year intervention order, banning him from contacting the employer, except through a lawyer. Yazdani was bailed to appear at Dandenong Magistrates' Court for sentencing on 5 December.
Greater Dandenong IFN members Agnes Kean of the Baha'i faith, Venerable Ol San (Cambodian Buddhist), Captain Claire Emerton (The Salvation Army) and Helen Heath with the new book. 199479 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
Snapshots of one humanity By Cam Lucadou-Wells A lavish coffee-table book captures the spectacular assortment of faiths and places of worship in Greater Dandenong. Many Faiths, One People was a "living history" project dreamed about for more than a decade. Photographer Hilton Stone and Greater Dandenong IFN's Helen Heath conceived the book which collects photos of IFN faith leaders and community members. It was originally to be launched in 2014 to mark the IFN's 25th anniversary. But it was deferred to produce the highquality book launched for what is the oldest Australian IFN's 30-year birthday, Ms Heath said. "As Mr Chin Tan states in his foreword, this book is the culmination of over a quarter cen-
tury of good will and devotion to diversity. "It is a tribute to all those faith and spiritual communities whose presence has greatly enriched the City of Greater Dandenong." To Ms Heath, the visual feast sparks questions such as what does a place of worship mean to people and a community. And what is its special meaning for a community when so many risk religious persecution all around the world, she ponders. "We hope the thoughts expressed by the faith leaders about the importance of understanding each other as we come from different faiths, will be a model and education for people to think about in their relationships with others who believe differently to them." Many Faiths, One People will be launched at a free event at Dandenong Library on Wednesday 30 November, 7pm-8.30pm. Books are available for $30.
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dandenong.starcommunity.com.au
Tuesday, 29 October, 2019
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STAR JOURNAL 9