Qld: Insulted refugee pleads guilty to assault

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2008
Qld: Insulted refugee pleads guilty to assault

EDS: Reissuing with insertion of complainant's name



By Christine Flatley

BRISBANE, Aug 29 AAP - A Sudanese refugee fractured the knee of a man who said rural
dwellers still living in Sudan should be left to die, a court has been told.

Galaledin Norain Hassaballa, 35, of Annerley in Brisbane's south, today pleaded guilty
in the Brisbane District Court to causing grievous bodily harm to 30-year-old Osmon Shatta.

The court was told Hassaballa had been at a meeting with other refugees in Brisbane
on January 1, 2007 to discuss the distribution of money raised to help those still living
in war-torn Sudan.

When Mr Shatta made a disparaging comment about rural-dwelling Sudanese people, an
outraged Hassaballa kicked him in the knee.

"The complainant made a comment about disregarding the tribes in rural areas and that
the money should be sent to the city," defence barrister Stephen Kissick said.

"This was greatly distressing to the mind of the defendant ... and he has lost his temper."

Mr Kissick told the court Hassaballa had come from rural Sudan to Australia three and
a half years ago on a humanitarian visa.

Mr Shatta, he said, had been living in a city in Darfur.

Mr Kissick said both men had different cultural outlooks and that this had led to the argument.

Mr Shatta had surgery to repair his knee but now had a permanent disability.

The court was told the pair initially tried to settle their dispute through mediation,
which involved community meetings involving Sudanese elders from Melbourne and Sydney.

However, this failed when Mr Shatta demanded $120,000 compensation for his injury,
which Hassaballa was unable to pay.

Judge Milton Griffin has adjourned Hassaballa's sentencing until Monday.

Hassaballa was allowed bail until then.

AAP cf/pjo/goc/

KEYWORD: HASSABALLA (REISSUING)

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