April 30, 2024
A horrific home invasion and bashing of an elderly couple allegedly by a man released from immigration detention has sparked a new crisis for the Albanese government with the Opposition demanding to know why the man was free despite previous breaches of his night curfew.
Majid Jamshidi Doukoshkan was one of 149 immigration detainees released into the community after a controversial High Court decision last year that prevented Australia from indefinitely detaining people who could not be returned to their home countries.
Jamshidi Doukoshkan, 43, is one of three men who allegedly attacked Perth couple Ninette and Philip Simons, both in their 70s, during a home invasion where they allegedly posed as police officers.
Jamshidi Doukoshkan was charged with aggravated home burglary, aggravated assault and impersonating a public officer.
The trio are alleged to have brutally bashed the pair, including punching Mrs Simons in the face multiple times, and allegedly stole more than $200,000 worth of jewellery and other items.
A photo released of Mrs Simons showed horrific injuries to her face.
The Opposition is now demanding the Albanese government answer key questions about the case, including if the Jamshidi Doukoshkan was being monitored after being released from detention.
Last month, the Kuwaitborn man fronted court after allegedly breaching night curfew multiple times but was granted bail. It's understood bail was opposed.
The curfew was part of a suite of rushed laws the Albanese government brought in to be able to monitor the group of released detainees, several of whom had prior criminal convictions. Exactly which conditions will be imposed upon each detainee is decided by the government appointed Community Protection Board and signed off on by the Australian Border Force.
"Immigration Minister Andrew Giles and Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil must front up and explain how the system they put in place to protect the Australian people failed this woman and her partner," Liberal MPs Dan Tehan and James Paterson said in a joint statement.
"If they cannot do this then they should do the honourable thing and resign. And if they won't resign the Prime Minister has to finally show some leadership and ask them to go." The pair are demanding the government reveal if he was wearing an ankle monitor or if there were any other preventive or monitoring conditions imposed on him.
"The Albanese Labor government has stopped providing timely updates about how many (detainees) are being monitored and what conditions are being applied," they said A spokesman for the ABF said he could not provide more details while the matter was before the courts.
Demand for answers after released detainee's alleged role in vicious attack
