Bilal Skaf
Encyclopedia
Bilal Skaf (born 14 September 1981 in Sydney, Australia) is a serial gang rapist who led groups of Lebanese Australian
men who committed gang rape attacks
against women in 2000.
For his crimes, Skaf is serving a 31-year prison sentence, and will be eligible for parole in 2033. He was originally sentenced to 55 years with a 40-year non-parole period, but that was modified several times upon appeal.
, gaining a good reputation among his colleagues. It was through his father's reputation that Skaf also found work for State Rail despite having left school at age 14 and gaining convictions for shoplifting
and theft
.
Since he was first charged in November 2000, Skaf has remained unrepentant. During his trial he claimed he was involved only in cases of consensual
sex, laughed when his verdict was read and swore at the judge when he received his sentence .
On 16 September 2005, the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal
reduced Skaf's 55 year sentence to a maximum of 28 years, with parole available after 22 years. The NSW Attorney-General Bob Debus
, decided that the government would seek leave for an appeal to the High Court of Australia
against the sentence reduction. An earlier appeal had already reduced his sentence to 46 years, after a successful appeal against one of his convictions.
On 3 February 2006 the High Court refused leave to appeal, arguing that the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal had been left with no choice because of the many errors by the trial judge in sentencing Skaf to 46 years. That meant Skaf could be freed at the age of 42 in 2023. A further appeal led to a 31-year sentence being imposed. Bilal Skaf will now be eligible for release on 11 February 2033.
from Lebanon
.
In 2002, Mustafa Skaf (his father) was accused of offering a bribe to a prison officer. Mr Skaf allegedly phoned the maximum security facility at 1.30pm on Wednesday 22 September 2002, and was put through to a duty officer. He gave his name and telephone number and asked to speak to his son.When the officer told him that outside calls had to be booked in advance and approved for set times, Mr Skaf offered to pay $100 to be put through to his son. The officer dismissed the offer and ended the conversation. He immediately called the number from the calling number display, and Mustafa Skaf answered.
In September 2002, his mother, Baria, was caught on video attempting to smuggle a letter (to his then fiancée) out of the prison. She was barred from visiting all NSW jails for a period of two years.
, but was soon moved to maximum security in Goulburn Gaol
after prison officers uncovered plans by fellow inmates to inject him with HIV
infected blood.
In March 2003, he was charged with writing a threatening letter to Corrective Services Commissioner, Ron Woodham. The letter had been found in an internal prison mailbox. The letter said: "Don't take this as a threat but if all Muslims aren't released by January 2003 Australia and citizens will be in danger of bombing". White powder had been put into the letter.
While awaiting a court appearance for the letter incident, in July 2003, drawings of gang rape were discovered in Skaf's prison cell. The drawings depicted violence and rape against his once loyal fiance, who had ended their relationship in March 2003. After she had cut off ties with Skaf, she was subjected to threatening phone calls and letters. She now says he can "rot in hell".
According to Corrective Services Commissioner, Ron Woodham, Skaf has not shown remorse for his crimes. Woodham also says Skaf has warned prison officers to be careful outside of work, as they may be shot.
Lebanese Australian
A Lebanese Australian is an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Lebanese descent. The community is multi-religious, and includes a Christian, mostly Maronite Catholic, majority, as well as a large Muslim minority of both the Shia and Sunni branches of Islam, and various other Christian and...
men who committed gang rape attacks
Sydney gang rapes
The Sydney gang rapes were a series of gang rape attacks committed by a group of up to fourteen Lebanese Australian men led by Bilal Skaf against European Australian women and teenage girls, as young as 14, in Sydney Australia in 2000...
against women in 2000.
For his crimes, Skaf is serving a 31-year prison sentence, and will be eligible for parole in 2033. He was originally sentenced to 55 years with a 40-year non-parole period, but that was modified several times upon appeal.
Early life
Bilal's father Mustapha worked for State Rail in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, gaining a good reputation among his colleagues. It was through his father's reputation that Skaf also found work for State Rail despite having left school at age 14 and gaining convictions for shoplifting
Shoplifting
Shoplifting is theft of goods from a retail establishment. It is one of the most common property crimes dealt with by police and courts....
and theft
Theft
In common usage, theft is the illegal taking of another person's property without that person's permission or consent. The word is also used as an informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting and fraud...
.
Gang rapes
Skaf was engaged at the time of his arrest but although his fiancée stood by him during his trial, she ended their engagement soon after his conviction. Skaf's response was to sketch cartoons depicting his former fiancée being raped and murdered.Since he was first charged in November 2000, Skaf has remained unrepentant. During his trial he claimed he was involved only in cases of consensual
Consent
Consent refers to the provision of approval or agreement, particularly and especially after thoughtful consideration.- Types of consent :*Implied consent is a controversial form of consent which is not expressly granted by a person, but rather inferred from a person's actions and the facts and...
sex, laughed when his verdict was read and swore at the judge when he received his sentence .
On 16 September 2005, the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal
Supreme Court of New South Wales
The Supreme Court of New South Wales is the highest state court of the Australian State of New South Wales...
reduced Skaf's 55 year sentence to a maximum of 28 years, with parole available after 22 years. The NSW Attorney-General Bob Debus
Bob Debus
Robert John "Bob" Debus AM , a former Australian politician, has been a member of the Australian House of Representatives and the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing the Australian Labor Party. Debus has been a minister in both the Australian and New South Wales governments...
, decided that the government would seek leave for an appeal to the High Court of Australia
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
against the sentence reduction. An earlier appeal had already reduced his sentence to 46 years, after a successful appeal against one of his convictions.
On 3 February 2006 the High Court refused leave to appeal, arguing that the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal had been left with no choice because of the many errors by the trial judge in sentencing Skaf to 46 years. That meant Skaf could be freed at the age of 42 in 2023. A further appeal led to a 31-year sentence being imposed. Bilal Skaf will now be eligible for release on 11 February 2033.
Family
He is the brother of Mohammed Skaf, also a gang rape attacker serving 32 years jail for his part in the attacks. Bilal and Mohammed are the sons of Mustapha Skaf and Baria Skaf who immigrated to AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
from Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
.
In 2002, Mustafa Skaf (his father) was accused of offering a bribe to a prison officer. Mr Skaf allegedly phoned the maximum security facility at 1.30pm on Wednesday 22 September 2002, and was put through to a duty officer. He gave his name and telephone number and asked to speak to his son.When the officer told him that outside calls had to be booked in advance and approved for set times, Mr Skaf offered to pay $100 to be put through to his son. The officer dismissed the offer and ended the conversation. He immediately called the number from the calling number display, and Mustafa Skaf answered.
In September 2002, his mother, Baria, was caught on video attempting to smuggle a letter (to his then fiancée) out of the prison. She was barred from visiting all NSW jails for a period of two years.
Prison life
He commenced his sentence in Sydney's Long Bay Correctional CentreLong Bay Correctional Centre
Long Bay Correctional Complex is located in the suburb of Malabar in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Long Bay comprises six institutions, four maximum security and two minimum security.-History:...
, but was soon moved to maximum security in Goulburn Gaol
Goulburn Correctional Centre
The Goulburn Correctional Centre is an Australian maximum and 'Super Maximum' security male prison located in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia....
after prison officers uncovered plans by fellow inmates to inject him with HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
infected blood.
In March 2003, he was charged with writing a threatening letter to Corrective Services Commissioner, Ron Woodham. The letter had been found in an internal prison mailbox. The letter said: "Don't take this as a threat but if all Muslims aren't released by January 2003 Australia and citizens will be in danger of bombing". White powder had been put into the letter.
While awaiting a court appearance for the letter incident, in July 2003, drawings of gang rape were discovered in Skaf's prison cell. The drawings depicted violence and rape against his once loyal fiance, who had ended their relationship in March 2003. After she had cut off ties with Skaf, she was subjected to threatening phone calls and letters. She now says he can "rot in hell".
According to Corrective Services Commissioner, Ron Woodham, Skaf has not shown remorse for his crimes. Woodham also says Skaf has warned prison officers to be careful outside of work, as they may be shot.
External links
- Gang rapists re-sentenced http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/07/28/1153816358559.html 28 July 2006
- Free by 41 - rape gang leader's shrinking sentence http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/free-by-41--rape-gang-leaders-shrinking-sentence/2006/02/03/1138958911092.html 4 February 2006
- Shattered fiancee stands by her 55-year man http://www.smh.com.au/cgi-bin/common/popupPrintArticle.pl?path=/articles/2002/09/13/1031608327001.html 14 September 2002
- Skaf lampoons gang rape http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/07/20/1058639654219.html 20 July 2003
- Racist rapes: Finally the truth comes out http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/07/13/1026185124700.html 14 July 2002