The kidnap and torture case of prominent Australian Israel-haters Laura Allam and Mohammad Sharab has begun, and it is already getting juicy.
Like a hamburger.
Colourful burger chain boss Hasheam Tayeh will face court on Friday where Victoria Police will try to force him to give evidence in a kidnap and torture case.
The Herald Sun understands “Hash” – a Palestinian activist and founder of Burgertory – was questioned by detectives after a man was allegedly ambushed by three masked men, tied up, stomped on and severely beaten with a hammer.
It is understood Mr Tayeh was questioned over the sickening February assault but did not fully co-operate with police.
The Herald Sun is not suggesting he played any part in the attack, but that detectives believe he has knowledge or information that could help the prosecution case and want him to be a witness.
When he refused a previous request, Victoria Police started the process of compelling him to give evidence.
It is believed the evidence Mr Tayeh could give specifically relates to Laura Allam, a prominent 27-year-old who has been charged over the brutal attack.
A co-accused is Mohammad Sharab, 37, who is a regular speaker at pro-Palestine rallies in Melbourne’s CBD. He has also been seen at the forefront of several controversial university protests, despite having no affiliation with the education facilities. He has been seen blocking Jewish students from entering university buildings.
The Herald Sun can also reveal for the first time that a third person charged over the assault is Ibrahim Al Azhari.
Detectives are continuing to hunt for a fourth unidentified assailant.
It will be interesting to see if Hash knew anything or whether he was involved.
I also can’t wait to find out who the fourth assailant was. I somehow doubt it was Nasser Mashni, despite his violent history, because in Laura Allam’s Instagram message following her arrest, she took aim at “so-called ‘community leaders’ and more prominent “‘public figures'” for not standing up for her, and Mashni certainly fits the bill.
Besides, there seems to be a plethora of potentially violent hotheads in the Israel-haters community,
