Australian police charge four over Sudanese assault

November 4, 2007 (CANBERRA) — Detectives have charged four men with attacking and bashing a Sudanese teenager at Melton, west of Melbourne.

Ajang Gor, 17, was riding his bike home from his job at a fast-food restaurant on the afternoon of October 9 when he was set on by four men, who shouted racial abuse and then punched and kicked him and smashed a bottle on his head.

The attackers stole his wallet and phone, then sent racist text messages and made abusive phone calls to Ajang’s brother, cousins and friends.

He spent the night in hospital at Sunshine.

The men have been charged with affray, intentionally and recklessly causing serious injury, robbery, theft, assault, using a telecommunications device to menace and other related offences.

An 18-year-old Patho man and three Melton men aged 18, 20 and 21 have all been bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on November 9.

The October attack came a week after Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews said the African refugee intake had been cut partly because Sudanese people were not integrating in Australia, sparking accusations of racism.

(AAP)