The Daily Telegraph
December 9,2013
SEVEN teenage girls have been allegedly sexually assaulted at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre yesterday.
AN ASYLUM seeker has been charged for allegedly sexually assaulting seven teenage girls at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre yesterday.
Mohammad Salem Nazari, 33, who has only been in Australia for six months on a bridging visa, is accused of indecently assaulting the girls, aged 14 to 18, in the rapids section of the centre between 4pm and 4.30pm.
Police said the girls reported the incident to pool security and after officers reviewed CCTV footage Nazari was arrested and taken to Auburn Police Station.
Nazari, who was living in Parramatta, has been charged with five counts of indecent assault of a person under 16 years of age and two counts of assault with an act of indecency.
His legal aid lawyer told Burwood Local Court his client spoke no English and required a Dari interpreter. Dari is a Persian language spoken in Iran and Afghanistan.
Nazari was refused bail to reappear on Wednesday.
Under the Coalition government asylum seekers on bridging visas facing criminal charges immediately have their visas revoked and placed in detention.
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison's office confirmed Nazari's visa had been cancelled and court papers said he was the "subject of an immigration hold" should he be granted bail.
Mr Morrison's spokesman said "since the election 31 illegal boat arrivals on bridging visas who were charged with criminal offences have had their bridging visas cancelled".
Immigration staff interviewed Nazari today while he was in custody.
Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has ordered that should this man be granted bail that he be immediately be taken into custody by the Australian Immigration Department.