The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has charged eight men with offences relating to a brawl at the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre earlier this year.
On the evening of 28 March 2019, an incident occurred at the Villawood Detention Centre involving approximately 15 detainees. Four detainees received injuries which required hospital care.
Immediately after the incident, staff at the centre found three improvised sharp-edged weapons. The AFP undertook an investigation which included witness interviews and the extensive review of CCTV and security footage.
The eight men aged between 22 and 36 years old are foreign nationals and were arrested over the past two days (6 and 7 August 2019).
It will be alleged in court all men were active participants in the incident, which included offences against centre staff attempting to break up the incident.
They all faced Bankstown Local Court charged with causing an affray contrary to the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).
Additionally, a 22-year-old man was charged with causing harm to a Commonwealth public official contrary to section 147.1 of the Criminal Code Act (Cth) 1995.
The maximum sentence for both offences is 10 years imprisonment
Four of the men were remanded in custody to reappear at Bankstown Local Court on 20 August 2019. The other four men were granted bail to also reappear at Bankstown Local Court on 20 August 2019, and were returned to the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre.
