Editing Sydney gang rapes (section)

==Attackers==

*'''[[Bilal Skaf]]''' led and orchestrated the three August 2000 attacks. He was initially sentenced to a total of 55 years' imprisonment but had his sentence for these attacks reduced by the [[Supreme Court of New South Wales|New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal]] to 28 years, with no parole for the first 22&nbsp;years. However, on 28 July 2006, Acting Justice Jane Mathews added another ten years to his sentence for his role in the 12 August rape. His original conviction over this attack had been quashed in 2004 and a retrial ordered after it was revealed that two jurors had conducted their own investigations at Gosling Park.<ref name="SMH rapists resentenced">{{cite news | last = Wallace | first = Natasha | title = Gang rapists re-sentenced | newspaper =The Sydney Morning Herald|date= 28 July 2006 | url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/gang-rapists-resentenced/2006/07/28/1153816358559.html | access-date = 30 July 2006 }}</ref> Bilal Skaf is eligible for release on parole from 11 February 2033. In March 2003, Skaf was charged with sending mail containing white powder to a corrections department official from prison in an apparent hoax [[terrorist]] act.<ref name="Age sight mind">{{cite news | last = Gibbs | first = Stephen | title = Rapist out of sight but not out of mind | newspaper = The Age |date= 2 August 2003 | url = http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/08/01/1059480552721.html | access-date = 30 July 2006 }}</ref> In April 2015, he was attacked by two other inmates in jail and sustained "serious facial injuries".<ref name="goulb-post-bash-sentence">{{cite news |last1=Oliver|first1=Peter |title=Prisoner sentenced for bashing Bilal Skaf |url=http://www.goulburnpost.com.au/story/3501535/prisoner-sentenced-for-bashing-bilal-skaf/ |access-date=7 March 2017 |work=[[Goulburn Post]] |date=18 November 2015}}</ref>
*'''Mohammed Skaf''', younger brother of Bilal Skaf, was one of the gang rapists. He was sentenced to 32 years for his role in the gang rapes, but also had his sentence reduced on appeal, to 19 years with a non-parole period of 11 years. However, on 28 July 2006, he received an additional 15 years, with a minimum of seven and a half years over the Gosling Park attack. He was then eligible for release on parole from 1 July 2019.<ref name="NEWS Skaf gets 31 years"/> Skaf showed no remorse for his crimes, making sexually inappropriate remarks to female staff at the [[Kariong Juvenile Justice Centre]] where he was incarcerated and continued to blame his victims for initially agreeing to go with him because "they came out with us as soon as I asked them."<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/10/1034222543718.html|title = Puny brother a cowardly bully|last = Crichton| first = Sarah|date = 11 October 2002|access-date = 15 July 2008|newspaper =The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> His parole was denied in February 2020, with The State Parole Authority mentioning that "it appears that he still blames the victims for his offending, has no victim empathy and refuses to take responsibility for his actions".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/news/crime/notorious-sydney-gang-rapist-mohammed-skaf-fails-in-parole-bid--c-709669|title=Notorious Sydney gang rapist learns fate after applying for parole|date=2020-02-21|website=7NEWS.com.au|language=en|access-date=2020-04-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/gang-rapist-mohammed-skaf-refused-parole-again-20200430-p54oqq.html|title=Gang rapist Mohammed Skaf refused parole again|date=2020-04-30|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=2020-04-30}}</ref> His parole was denied again in November 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nilsson |first1=Anton |last2=Zemek |first2=Steve |title=Mohammed Skaf denied parole for a third time |url=https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/courts-law/mohammed-skaf-denied-parole-for-a-third-time/news-story/219b96b788ef2fb0dccee45750d594e3 |access-date=9 December 2020 |publisher=News.com.au |date=6 November 2020}}</ref> Mohammed Skaf was released under "strict parole" conditions on 6 October 2021. The release on parole means Skaf can be under "heavy surveillance" for 26 months. He will be monitored electronically for 24 hours a day, and he has also been banned from some areas in Western Sydney.<ref name="abc-mhmd-skaf-parole-6oct'21">{{cite news |last1=Reddie |first1=Mark |title=Sydney gang rapist Mohammed Skaf released from prison on parole |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-06/gang-rapist-mohammed-skaf-leaves-jail-on-parole/100516616 |access-date=6 October 2021 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=5 October 2021 |language=en-AU}}</ref>
*'''Belal Hajeid''', then 20, was another gang rapist who was convicted and imprisoned for 23 years with a non-parole period of 15 years. Hajeid later had his sentence reduced on appeal.<ref name="Belal Hajeid conviction">{{cite news| last=Duff| first=Eamonn| title=Convicted man's family feel like criminals| url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/07/20/1026898931420.html| access-date=5 September 2013| newspaper=The Sun-Herald| date=21 July 2002| quote=''...&nbsp;jailed for 23 years for his part in the gang rape of two teenage girls.''}}</ref>
*'''Mohammed Sanoussi''', then 18, was a gang rapist who was sentenced to 21 years with a non-parole period of 12 years for the 10 and 30 August rapes. Sanoussi later had his sentence reduced to 16 years on appeal. Shortly after Sanoussi's conviction, his brother and cousin were banned from visiting him in prison for three months after a rowdy clash with staff at the Kariong Juvenile Justice Centre where he was incarcerated. Shouting broke out when staff removed the visitors after they had tried to pass newspaper clippings to the brothers about their sentencing the previous day.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/09/14/1031608343098.html|title = Rape leader's mum banned from prison|last = Mitchell|first = Alex| work = Sun Herald| date = 15 September 2002|access-date = 15 July 2008}}</ref> Sanoussi remained behind bars when denied parole for a second time in October 2011.<ref>"[http://m.smh.com.au/nsw/sydney-gang-rapist-loses-parole-bid-20111004-1l6k8.html Sydney Gang rapist Loses Parole Bid]". ''AAP'', The Sydney Morning Herald, 4 October 2011</ref> Parole applications were rejected on three occasions.<ref name="Parole revoked"/> He has been on weekend leave since October 2012 and day leave since April 2013.<!-- or May? "...&nbsp;past five months." --> On 5 September 2013, Sanoussi was granted parole with strict conditions but was not immediately released.<ref name="paroled September 2013">{{cite news| title=Parole granted to Skaf gang rapist Mohamed Sanoussi| url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-05/parole-granted-to-skaf-gang-rapist-mohamed-sanoussi/4937204| access-date=5 September 2013| work=ABC News |location=Australia | date=5 September 2013}}</ref> The next day, his parole was revoked.<ref name="Parole revoked">{{cite news| title=Parole revoked for Skaf gang rapist Mohamed Sanoussi| url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-06/parole-revoked-for-skaf-gang-rapist-mohamed-sanoussi/4941214| access-date=6 September 2013| newspaper=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]| location=Australia | date=6 September 2013| quote=''The State Parole Authority has revoked the parole it granted just yesterday to Skaf gang rapist Mohamed Sanoussi, before he could be released.''}}</ref> Upon release, Sanoussi was to live at his family's home. However, late on 5 September it became known that his two brothers, who also lived there and are linked to the "[[Brothers for Life]]" gang, had been charged, with two others, with a violent assault.<ref name="Parole revoked"/> The State Parole Authority met and decided that "...&nbsp;the previously approved accommodation was not suitable in light of the new information."<ref name="Parole revoked"/> On appeal, Judge Terence Christie conceded that his brother's crimes had nothing to do with Sanoussi and that he should be released. Sanoussi was paroled on 10 October 2013. Among other conditions, he is not to have contact with his two brothers without permission.<ref name="Sanoussi parole September 2013">{{cite news| title = Skaf gang rapist Mohammed Sanoussi cleared for parole |url = http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/skaf-gang-rapist-mohammed-sanoussi-cleared-for-parole/story-e6frg6nf-1226722712486#sthash.iQQNmMH3.dpuf| access-date=20 September 2013 |work=The Australian| date=19 September 2013 |agency=AAP}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=NSW gang rapist Sanoussi free from jail|url=http://www.9news.com.au/national/2013/10/10/10/55/skaf-rapist-mohamed-sanoussi-set-to-walk|website=9News.com|date=10 October 2013 |access-date=18 September 2014}}</ref>
*'''Mahmoud Sanoussi''', brother of Mohammed Sanoussi, then 17, was sentenced to 11 years and three months' imprisonment with parole available after six and a half years. He unsuccessfully appealed against his sentence in 2005. He was released on parole in May 2009 but had his parole revoked in March 2010 for his drug use.<ref>{{cite news| last=Davies| first=Lisa| url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw-act/skaf-gang-rapist-back-behind-bars/story-e6freuzi-1225851594937|title=Skaf gang rapist back behind bars|work=The Daily Telegraph| date=9 April 2010| access-date=6 September 2013}}</ref>
*'''Mahmoud Chami''', then 20, was sentenced to 18 years with a non-parole period of ten years. Chami unsuccessfully appealed against his sentence in 2004. He was released to parole in April 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200208/s644897.htm |title=Man jailed until 2012 for NSW gang rape |date=9 August 2002 |work=[[ABC Online]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208054347/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200208/s644897.htm |archive-date=8 December 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Jeloscek|first1=Lee|title=Notorious Skaf gang rapist may be paroled|url=https://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/18595224/notorious-skaf-gang-rapist-may-be-paroled/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140918160647/https://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/18595224/notorious-skaf-gang-rapist-may-be-paroled/|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 September 2014|website=7News, Sydney|publisher=Yahoo News|access-date=18 September 2014}}</ref>
*"'''H'''" (Identity sealed: H has had his name suppressed under court order because of his "intellectual and mental disabilities"),<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/s676658.htm |title = Sentencing of H |work = [[Four Corners (Australian TV program)|Four Corners]] - ... For Being Lebanese Broadcast 16 September 2002 |publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date = 16 September 2002 |access-date = 15 July 2008 |quote = '' On 23 August 2002, Justice Michael Finnane sentenced 'H' to 25 years in gaol with 15 years non-parole. These are Justice Finnane's sentencing remarks.'' |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080419082940/http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/s676658.htm |archive-date = 19 April 2008 |url-status = dead}}</ref> then 19, was sentenced to 25 years with a non-parole period of 15 years. 'H' later had his sentence reduced on appeal. A parole hearing was held in October 2013,<ref name="Sanoussi parole September 2013" /> and he was released in February 2014 under strict parole conditions.<ref name=news-H-release>[http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/skaf-gang-rapist-to-be-released/story-e6frfku9-1226817453153 Skaf gang rapist to be released]. 4 February 2014, News.com.au</ref>
*'''Tayyab Sheikh''', then 16, was initially sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment with a non-parole period of nine years for his role in the 30 August rape. He was retried and sentenced to eight years and six months' imprisonment, with a non-parole period of four years and six months. He was released from prison in late June 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/skaf-gang-rapes-unmasking-the-monster-behind-the-crimes-that-shocked-a-nation/news-story/d573a6b93f35daafed54dfdb5ad063fd |title=Skaf gang rapes: Unmasking the monsters behind the crimes that shocked a nation |website=dailytelegraph.com.au |date=1 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/freedom-for-gang-rapist-who-faced-two-trials/2007/07/02/1183351125251.html|title=Freedom for gang rapist who faced two trials|date=2 July 2007|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/09/06/1031115938178.html|title=Rape gang members named|last=Crichton|first=Sarah|author2=Stevenson, Andrew |date=7 September 2002|work=theage.com.au|access-date=24 March 2011}}</ref>
*'''Mohammed Ghanem''', then 19, was the final person to be sentenced and was imprisoned for 40 years with a non-parole period of 26 years for two counts of rape. Ghanem, like his co-offenders Bilal Skaf and Mohammed Skaf, showed no remorse for his actions, effectively opting to "tough it out" at the Kariong Juvenile Justice Centre, where he was detained while awaiting trial.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/11/1034222596283.html| title = Gang rape man jailed 40 years|last = Crichton| first = Sarah|date = 12 October 2002|access-date = 15 July 2008|newspaper =The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref>

There was evidence to convict only nine men of the fourteen suspects. The sentences totalled 240 years in prison.