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| Down Under |
| Sydney riots strike force Chief stood down |
| 2006-01-20 |
| THE Cronulla riot strike force chief was yesterday stood down as police faced new embarrassment over the bungled investigation. One day after police released video footage of a riot revenge attack by Middle Eastern youths, The Saturday Daily Telegraph was able to identify a witness who may hold the key to identifying the thugs. Former junior rugby league coach Ahmed Jajieh, 24, was last night confirmed as a central figure in the gang attack on 35-year-old Steve B at Cronulla on December 12. The revelation came as police split ranks over the removal of Detective Superintendent Dennis Bray, who was axed for failing to inform Commissioner Ken Moroney of the CCTV footage. The family of Mr Jajieh admitted he was among the throng of up to 30 men of Middle Eastern appearance captured on CCTV camera when Steve B was set upon outside the YHA Hostel. But Mr Jajieh's brother, who did not want to be identified, told The Saturday Daily Telegraph: "If you see the video you can see he went in to help the guy." An informant told The Saturday Daily Telegraph she called Crime Stoppers on Thursday night, naming Mr Jajieh as one of the people in the footage. But as of last night, police had yet to contact Mr Jajieh. The footage, released on Thursday night, showed up to 20 youths kicking and bashing electrician Steve B on The Kingsway as gangs rampaged through Cronulla in retaliation for the riots. Police faced further criticism over their delay in releasing video of the attack. Mr Moroney and Premier Morris Iemma yesterday announced that strike force Enoggera, which is investigating the riots, will be increased from 28 to 100 officers. Mr Moroney expressed his "concern, disappointment and absolute annoyance" at not being told a video existed. He said as a result, he had replaced Supt Bray with Superintendent Ken McKay. One informant also told police some of the players from the under-17 Mt Prichard football team Mr Jajieh coached were also involved in the attack. Some of the boys are current or former students at Ashcroft Boys High School and come from the Green Valley area. All of the players identities are kept by the Parramatta Junior Rugby League. However, police have yet to make contact with the association and yesterday afternoon, Mr Moroney still did not know that someone on the video had been identified. Asked if anyone had come forward, Mr Moroney said: "No, not as a result of viewing the video on television. Not to this point in time." |
| Posted by:Oztralian |