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Author:
Publication: ABC Newsonline
Date: September 16, 2005
URL: http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200509/s1462306.htm
Concern has been raised about a New South Wales court's decision to reduce the jail sentences given to five Sydney men, who committed a series of gang rapes five years ago.
Two Sydney brothers had their jail sentences significantly reduced after the court has found their crimes were not in the worst case category.
When Bilal Skaf was sentenced to 55 years in jail for orchestrating a series of gang rapes, it was the longest sentence ever imposed for sexual assault crimes.
His brother, Mohammed Skaf, was originally sentenced to a maximum of 32 years in jail for his role in the attacks on several young women in Sydney's south-western suburbs in 2000.
But after the latest in a series of appeals, the Court of Criminal Appeal has today reduced Bilal Skaf's maximum sentence to 28 years in jail, while the longest his brother will now serve is 19 years.
The court found the attacks were not in the worst case category and that the sentences had been manifestly excessive.
Three other offenders have also had their sentences cut, while two more men did not win their appeals.
The State Opposition says the Government should immediately appeal against the reduced sentences.
The Opposition's Andrew Tink says the appeal must go ahead.
"I don't understand how you can have somebody leading a group of people in a crime like this and have some doubt about that not being the worst category of crime for that leadership role," he said.
New South Wales Attorney-General Bob Debus says a High Court appeal against the decision is being considered by the Department of Public Prosecutions.
"These are cases that have caused the entire community tremendous distress and it is in response to that distress and community views that the Government now some time ago changed the maximum sentence for a gang rape offence to life," he said.
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