Afghani bash claim man on charges

http://mymooneevalley.com.au/2007/11/bash_claim_man_on_charges.php

November 13, 2007 3:14 PM

A MAN who claimed he was bashed by Flemington and Brunswick police officers is facing numerous charges for impersonating a policeman.

Afghanistan-born Ghafoor Wakil, 20, has been charged with nine criminal offences including assaulting police, resisting arrest, attempted robbery, imprisonment and recklessly causing serious injury.

An unrelated charge of resisting arrest was last month dismissed by the Melbourne Magistrates Court in the absence of any other charges. In the same trial, Moonee Valley youth citizen of the year Ahmed Dini was found not guilty of hindering police.

The pair was arrested together on February 14, 2006, after a police car was stoned by a group at the Flemington high-rise estate.

Dini, 20, is yet to face court on charges of assault with a weapon, causing an affray and using threatening words.

In September 2005, Dini was commissioned by Moonee Valley Council to research a taxpayer-funded report into crime.

Dini blamed crime committed by Africans on racist senior police officers, Victoria's education system, workplace discrimination, a war-torn homeland, childhood hardship, low Centrelink payments and the media.

However, he acknowledged his brother, 22, had never committed a crime.

Dini, who was also chosen to meet Prime Minister John Howard as part of his La Trobe University leadership course, said Africans resorted to crime because of lack of opportunity ...