Two Indian nationals have pleaded not guilty to the abduction and rape of a Canberra woman.
Ajitpal Singh, 31, and Randhir Singh, 20, entered the pleas when they appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday on charges of rape, abduction, unlawful confinement, and committing acts of indecency.
The court heard a third man had fled the country to India earlier this month.
The two men applied for bail, but magistrate Peter Dingwall deferred making a decision on the request until the men’s immigration status could be confirmed.
The men – who work as trolley collectors – were arrested after allegedly setting a sex trap for the woman in September after chatting with her on social media.
The court has previously heard that Randhir Singh communicated with the alleged victim using the Tango chat application. They arranged to meet at the Kippax Fair Shopping Centre on September 26.
He approached the woman on the day and allegedly threatened to show the messages to her husband if she did not come with him.
He is also alleged to have threatened her child and identified his school.
The woman was then allegedly sexually assaulted in a car and at a Belconnen unit by three men.
It was photographed and the photos were allegedly used to coerce the woman to perform further sexual acts or they would be shown to her husband.
A police informant told the court a number of phones had been seized as part of the investigation.
The officer said the woman did not know the men and details of how they discovered information about her were under investigation.
The court heard the Immigration Department had cancelled Ajitpal Singh’s visa and he would be taken to Villawood detention centre if released on bail.
Randhir Singh’s student visa is also under review, but the court heard that immigration will wait until he is released to interview him.
The prosecution opposed bail, arguing the men could interfere with the investigation, harm the complainant, or flee the jurisdiction.
The prosecutor said that the alleged incident had been ”predatory and premeditated behaviour”.
But Randhir Singh’s defence lawyer said her client intended to apply for permanent residency and would stay in Australia to fight to clear his name.
The court heard he was willing to subject himself to strict reporting conditions and provide a $1000 surety to the court.
The bail application will continue when the men reappear next week.
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Source: Canberra Times