Another freed immigration detainee is arrested – just days after elderly woman was allegedly bashed by asylum seeker
A released immigration detainee has been charged with failing to comply with his visa-required curfew and maintain a monitoring device.
The AFP arrested and charged the 45-year-old Sundanese man on Monday after locating him in Melbourne. He appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on the same day and was granted bail.
The former detainee was one of 154 men released from immigration detention in November after the Supreme Court ruled that indefinite detention was unlawful.
It is alleged that the man breached the terms of his Commonwealth visa on three occasions between April 20, 2024 and April 29, 2024 by failing to comply with residential curfew obligations and by failing to maintain his recording equipment.
He is expected to appear in court again on May 22.
His arrest comes just days after a Perth grandmother was allegedly attacked by another recently released immigration detainee during a violent home invasion.
The man was one of three people arrested in connection with the assault and robbery of 73-year-old Ninette Simmons earlier in April.
Western Australian police allege the trio attacked Ms Simmons’ husband, Philip, 76, and tied his hands behind his back before stealing $200,000 worth of jewellery.
The three perpetrators gained access to the couple’s home by posing as police officers.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has summoned Immigration Minister Andrew Giles and Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil for an explanation over the incident.
“Unfortunately, it is the victims, as we saw in Perth, and I think as we will see across the country, who are paying the price for the incompetence of the Albanian government and the two ministers … lacking in action,” he told Nine’s Today programme.
“There needs to be transparency because from day one the government has shrouded everything in secrecy, and if they have nothing to hide then they need to be honest and open with the Australian people.”
While the government tried to push through parliament in March legislation that would impose mandatory prison terms of at least one year on immigration detainees who do not cooperate with deportation attempts, the proposal was delayed by the opposition and the crossbench.
Mr Dutton denied opposing the laws for political gain.
“We often demanded that the government tighten the legislation, which they eventually did, because what they originally put forward was so weak,” he said.