International News
AUSTRALIA: Somali man paid $525,000 for wrong conviction
June 29, 2010 · 8 Comments
MELBOURNE (Somalilandpress) — A MAN wrongly convicted and jailed for rape has been awarded $525,000 by the state government.
Farah Jama, 22, launched his compensation bid after spending 15 months in jail when his DNA sample contaminated one taken from a woman allegedly sexually assaulted at a Doncaster nightclub.
He was released in November, with prosecutor Brett Sonnet labelling the case a ”substantial miscarriage of justice”.
The woman, 48, who was allegedly attacked had little memory of the July 2006 incident and, Mr Sonnet said, the risk of DNA contamination was never explained to the jury.
The jury rejected his pleas that he had never been to the nightclub and he was sentenced to six years’ jail, with a minimum of four years.
Mr Jama’s lawyer Hina Pasha, told the ABC last night that the settlement had been reached on Friday.
”Provided that Mr Jama is happy and can move on with his life it’s an adequate settlement,” she said.
Ms Pasha said Mr Jama was seeking a personal apology from Attorney-General Rob Hulls, who has apologised publicly.
Mr Hulls last night confirmed the payout.
”The government had no legal obligation to compensate Mr Jama but believed it was the right thing to do and, as a consequence, has settled this matter by way of ex-gratia payment,” he said.
Mr Jama’s family is reportedly considering legal action against the state government and Victoria police for nervous shock suffered during the ordeal.
By Reid Sexton
Source: The Age | Tuesday, 29 June 2010
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Tags: Australia, conviction, Farah, Melbourne, rape
Readers Comments (8)
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Half a million is nothing compare to ordeal he went through and accused of. But something is better nothing. Mr. Jama should seek the police to clear his name or they will always consider him a rapist.
Thank God to DNA testing….. I think in this case he will have his name cleared…. and let this be a lesson to the rest of the Somalia Man.. young and old stay away from White Women…. no offense to the White Women but some of them are the devil…..
Victorian police are corrupted and full of racist officers. They just wanted to lock up a black man. If any white woman says she got raped even when she didnt (often when African guys dumped them or break up with them) the white police find any black guy to arrest.
Victorian police are like Somalia's warlords.
After his ordeal, not so sure if he will have the confidence
to approach the fairer sex, he will need to go for counseling,
yeah, he is compensated but what is that compared to what
he went through while he was behind bars. I hope he will be
able to put this terrible episode behind him and go on with his
life.
There were cases in the USA where white man would rape white woman and yet the woman herself points finger at black man. Or when a rape occurs the police would grab the first black man they see from the street. It is common that a black man gets arrested when a crime occurs. And the cases go to court, it is win the case among lawyers instead of looking for a guilt or innocence.
funny i see this not as a mistake but as an attempt to discriminate the black men couse when such like these accidents happen they always attack the black’s and put the resposibility on their shoulders there fore no matter the so called DNA test that i thinks it’s just like other tests that cames either right or wrong.
hope all black men
Be strong Mr. Jama and put this incident behind you and go on
with your life. Remember, too, that the goodness of ALLAH always
prevails when one thinks they are lost and lonely. Move on and help
your family. Wish you lots, lots of luck and be wise, walaalo!!!!
its ok