A man accused of imprisoning and gang-raping a 14-year-old girl has been released on bail, and his father engaged in a verbal altercation with a photographer outside Melbourne Magistrates' Court. Mohamed Hafda, 23, is charged with allegedly holding the teen prisoner and repeatedly sexually assaulting her in Coburg in September 2023.
Hafda and co-accused Massimo Salerno, 22, are also charged with sexually assaulting and penetrating the child, as well as causing the alleged victim to touch them without consent. Investigators from the Fawkner Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team laid the charges in January after a police report and subsequent investigation.
Hafda, who is out on bail for these charges, is also accused of supplying the child with drugs. Salerno, who failed to appear at recent hearings, was reportedly granted bail for these charges but was later remanded on unrelated offenses. Salerno remains in custody.
Hafda's father, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, attempted to block a freelance photographer's view and stated they did not have permission to take images of his son. When informed that permission was not required to photograph individuals leaving court, both Hafda and his father attempted to obscure their faces as they departed.
Hafda's bail has been extended, and he is scheduled to appear in court at a later date. The case is ongoing.