A 61-year-old man from Brisbane has been charged as the second individual under newly enacted legislation following the Bondi shooting incidents.
Atallah Mohaghegh Nahavandi appeared in a Brisbane court after reportedly planning a violent assault against his ex-wife’s nephew.
Mr. Mohaghegh Nahavandi was denied bail, and the case is scheduled to return to the Richlands Magistrates Court next month.
He stands accused of orchestrating a violent act against a family member, marking the second instance of this charge since the introduction of new state laws after the Bondi shootings.
Mr. Mohaghegh Nahavandi was taken into custody earlier this week and participated in a court session via video link on Wednesday.
He faces a charge of preparing or planning an offense that could result in death or serious bodily harm to another individual. This is only the second occasion that this specific charge has been addressed in a Queensland court since it was recently legislated.
The “Fighting Antisemitism and Keeping Guns out of the Hands of Terrorists and Criminals Amendment Bill” aims to prosecute individuals who may not have finalized their plans but are engaged in the preparation or planning of potential offenses.
In addition, Mr. Mohaghegh Nahavandi is charged with unlawful stalking as it pertains to domestic violence.
Using a Farsi translator, he applied for bail but was unsuccessful. During the proceedings, the court was informed of details related to his alleged actions, which involved attempts to recruit an unknown individual to seriously harm his ex-wife’s nephew.
In a recorded conversation from April, Mr. Mohaghegh Nahavandi purportedly discussed methods to assault the victim, including inflicting injuries that would render him unable to speak and suggesting he should be burned with petrol to induce a coma lasting at least nine months.
The court heard that the individual he allegedly approached for the attack had proposed executing a hit-and-run to accomplish the assault.
Concerns about Mr. Mohaghegh Nahavandi’s potential release were raised by police prosecutor Ellie White, who indicated that he posed a danger to the victim’s safety. She stated that he had offered detailed information about the nephew’s whereabouts, including home and vehicle details.
Witnesses from the family reportedly observed Mr. Mohaghegh Nahavandi loitering outside their residences and following them throughout the day. Ms. White characterized his behavior as showing a “fixation” on the victim, representing a “credible threat” of serious harm.
“This conduct indicates a discernible and escalating pattern of domestic violence,” she asserted, emphasizing the prosecution’s view that he was a danger to the victim.
In defense, duty lawyer Zane Playle contended that the prosecution’s case could be subject to scrutiny. He noted that the case relies heavily on a translation of an audio recording allegedly involving Mr. Mohaghegh Nahavandi and an acquaintance of the victim.
Mr. Playle raised concerns regarding the qualifications of the translator, whose identity and credentials were unknown, and criticized the lack of independent verification by law enforcement regarding the recording’s reliability.
He also pointed out the challenges in assessing the credibility of the unnamed associate involved. Mr. Playle highlighted that his client had no prior criminal record, maintained connections in Brisbane, and was employed full-time as a driver.
Although Mr. Mohaghegh Nahavandi had recently vacated his former residence, he had the option to stay with friends if released. However, his bail was denied, with the magistrate determining that the evidence against him was substantial and that he posed a risk of reoffending.
The proceedings have been adjourned and are set to resume next month at the Richlands Magistrates Court.
