Man who allegedly stabbed a NSW Services employee during a frenzied attack was ‘furious’ over paperwork – as his lawyer tells court, he is ‘mentally unstable’
- Man allegedly stabbing Services NSW worker ‘mentally unstable’
- Mahmoud Salhab, 37, was charged after allegedly stabbing an employee
- Police say the attack was a result of the worker not being able to help him
Police allege the stabbing of a Services NSW employee in Sydney’s CBD was due to the employee’s failure to amend the client’s paperwork.
Mahmoud Salhab, 37, from southwest Sydney, failed to appear at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday after being charged with intentionally causing grievous bodily harm.
His lawyer told the court that his client, accused of stabbing the NSW official in an unprovoked assault, has mental health problems and requested that he be moved to a mental health facility, a request the magistrate rejected.
Salhab is said to have come to the service center in Haymarket around 9am on Friday to change his birth certificate.
They also claim that he sat in the lounge while the worker fought for his life.
A court has heard that the stabbing of a Services NSW employee in Sydney’s CBD was allegedly due to the employee’s failure to change the birth certificate of Mahmoud Salhoub, 37.
His lawyer Javid Faiz requested that his client be transferred to a mental health facility, under Section 25 of the Cognitive Impairment Act 2020.
‘He is not in a stable position mentally,’ Mr Faiz told the court, adding that Surry Hills Police Station, where he is currently being held, had ‘some concerns about their protection’.
Magistrate John Bailey denied the request because there was “insufficient information” to issue the warrant.
Instead, he asked for a psychiatric report for the next court date.
Outside of court, Mr Faiz told reporters that his client had been suffering from mental health issues for “quite some time”.
“He has had treatment in the past,” Mr Faiz added.
Salhab allegedly came to the service center around 9am on Friday to change his birth certificate and when he couldn’t help him, he stabbed him several times in the chest
Mr Salhab did not apply for bail and bail was formally denied. The case was adjourned to be heard in Downing Center local court on June 23
The police factsheet, seen by The Daily Telegraphsays the 54-year-old employee approached Salhab in the lobby of the building on Rawson Pl, Haymarket before becoming aggressive when the member of staff was unable to help him.
Police allege Salhab began ‘fiddling’ with his hands behind his back before pulling out a knife and allegedly stabbing the Services NSW employee at his workplace in Haymarket in Sydney’s CBD at about 9.20am on Friday.
The facts state that by the time the employee pressed a duress alarm on his lanyard, he had been stabbed multiple times in the chest in a “frantic and uncontrolled attack.”
The government employee suffered injuries to the lower back, chest and shoulder during the attack and remained in intensive care after surgery at St. Vincent’s Hospital late Friday.
Mr Salhab did not apply for bail and bail was formally denied.
The case was adjourned to be heard in Downing Center local court on June 23.
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