{"id":730795,"date":"2026-06-12T01:18:20","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T01:18:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/730795\/"},"modified":"2026-06-12T01:18:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T01:18:20","slug":"mohammed-skafs-alleged-rape-victim-tracy-lee-questions-nsw-justice-system-after-arrest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/730795\/","title":{"rendered":"Mohammed Skaf\u2019s alleged rape victim Tracy Lee questions NSW justice system after arrest"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Amber Schultz\" data-testid=\"author-avatar-image\" height=\"64\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/6cf3ef58425442818dbc04724af4be2696ecdd06.png\"  width=\"64\" class=\"sc-9a01536c-0 libeSR\"\/>Save<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-d1b14060-4 JmUoF\">You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n<p>Remove items from your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/goodfood\/saved\" class=\"sc-3f16ee48-12 sc-d1b14060-2 jyLmZI iQLtAb\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n<p>AAA<\/p>\n<p>An alleged victim of notorious Sydney gang rapist Mohammed Skaf has questioned the state\u2019s justice system after the 42-year-old\u2019s arrest over his alleged involvement in directing a <a class=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/national\/nsw\/notorious-gang-rapist-mohammed-skaf-charged-with-24-new-offences-20260611-p605q4.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">large-scale drug trafficking syndicate<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Tracy Lee, who asked that her surname not be published, was just 15 years old when she allegedly became one of the first victims of the Skaf brothers, who were imprisoned for a series of horrific attacks on schoolgirls across the late 1990s. Her case was never prosecuted after she said police pressured her to drop her complaint and questioned whether she consented to the horrors she endured.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Tracy Lee said she was never interviewed by police with an adult present after she was attacked in 1999.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/df303d82df0a240cd89a42d109eb568c718b7aa815b4815f5f43065b4dd74856.jpeg\"  class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ldCIuB\"\/>Tracy Lee said she was never interviewed by police with an adult present after she was attacked in 1999. <\/p>\n<p>Reacting to Wednesday\u2019s arrest, Tracy Lee said that while she wanted \u201cjustice with no malice\u201d against her alleged attackers, it appeared rehabilitation may have failed.<\/p>\n<p>If the allegations are proven, Tracy Lee said it would show that Skaf has not changed.<\/p>\n<p>It would be sad, she said, if Skaf \u201ccouldn\u2019t take his opportunity and become a different person\u201d. Tracy Lee said it was crucial that the justice system offered rehabilitation and the opportunity \u201cto reintegrate into society\u201d.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Mohammed Skaf, aged 17.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/55858372619e641639e674ab7e99ef2356127e0a.jpeg\"  class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ldCIuB\"\/>Mohammed Skaf, aged 17.NSW Police <\/p>\n<p>She also said that while she was \u201csick\u201d of seeing the brothers\u2019 faces, part of her wanted to sit down with them and tell them she had forgiven them.<\/p>\n<p>Skaf has been charged with 24 offences, including supplying prohibited drugs of varying quantities, knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime and directing activities of a criminal group. Police allegedly seized almost $250,000 cash, cocaine, MDMA and several mobile phones.<\/p>\n<p>Skaf was hospitalised on Wednesday after an alleged struggle with police during his arrest. He was later escorted from Bankstown Hospital by NSW Police with his arm in a sling.<\/p>\n<p>A man and woman allegedly working with Skaf, John Harvard \u2013 who is also known as Ahmed Warwar \u2013 and Winter Egitmeglu, were also arrested on Wednesday night. Detectives allege they worked as runners for Skaf.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Tracy Lee, pictured in 2025, said police pressured her to drop her allegations of gang rape when she was a teen.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/9317f71be819621ec3f90031e5f714a5ae14655b.jpeg\"  class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ldCIuB\"\/>Tracy Lee, pictured in 2025, said police pressured her to drop her allegations of gang rape when she was a teen.Steven Siewert<\/p>\n<p>Tracy Lee met the brothers in 1999. She alleged that Bilal took her into a toilet block, threatened her with a knife and, when she refused his sexual advances, called his friends. <a class=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/national\/nsw\/tracy-lee-was-attacked-by-the-skaf-rape-gang-the-horror-didn-t-stop-there-20250623-p5m9pm.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Across 4\u00bd horrifying hours<\/a>, she said she was sexually assaulted by more than a dozen men with a gun and knives pointed at her.<\/p>\n<p>Despite a sexual assault service expert certificate cited by this masthead finding her physical injuries, including haemorrhages in her mouth, cuts on her lips, and bruises and red marks all over her body, matched her allegations, Tracy Lee said police did not take her complaint seriously.<\/p>\n<p>On January 17, 2000 \u2013 10 months before the first of many charges would be brought against Skaf for other attacks \u2013 Tracy Lee said a detective encouraged her to drop her case.<\/p>\n<p>NSW Police have since implemented reforms to ensure complainants receive a victim-centric, trauma-informed response within the force.<\/p>\n<p>Related Article<a href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/national\/nsw\/tracy-lee-was-attacked-by-the-skaf-rape-gang-the-horror-didn-t-stop-there-20250623-p5m9pm.html\" tabindex=\"-1\" class=\"sc-cba76dee-0 hdiTqm\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Tracy Lee said she was never interviewed by police with an adult present.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781227098_774_df303d82df0a240cd89a42d109eb568c718b7aa815b4815f5f43065b4dd74856.jpeg\"  class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ioInpc\"\/><\/a>Related Article<a href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/national\/nsw\/notorious-gang-rapist-mohammed-skaf-charged-with-24-new-offences-20260611-p605q4.html\" tabindex=\"-1\" class=\"sc-cba76dee-0 hdiTqm\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Moahmmed Skaf escorted from Bankstown Hospital by police. The notorious gang rapist has been accused of directing a group engaged in alleged drug supply.\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1dfd631eec65634937b212ebe33e767b088e4140cf4c5bbb16a7f2a13deab24f.gif\"  class=\"sc-d34e428-1 ioInpc\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Skaf, then 17, his brother Bilal and at least 14 other men raped at least six schoolgirls over several weeks in 2000. They lured girls from locations such as shopping centres and railway stations and then repeatedly forced them to perform sex acts on the men.<\/p>\n<p>Skaf served 21 years behind bars for his crime against other victims and was released from prison in October 2021 under strict parole conditions, including 24\/7 electronic monitoring and participation in mental health and community programs. The conditions expired in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Bilal Skaf is serving a 38-year prison sentence, which was reduced from 55 years on appeal.<\/p>\n<p>Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732)<\/p>\n<p>Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. <a class=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/newsletter-signup?newsletter=am&amp;utm_source=EditorialArticle&amp;utm_medium=ArticleText&amp;utm_campaign=Newsletters\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Save<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-d1b14060-4 JmUoF\">You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n<p>Remove items from your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/goodfood\/saved\" class=\"sc-3f16ee48-12 sc-d1b14060-2 jyLmZI iQLtAb\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Amber Schultz\" data-testid=\"author-avatar-image\" height=\"40\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/6cf3ef58425442818dbc04724af4be2696ecdd06.png\"  width=\"40\" class=\"sc-9a01536c-0 libeSR\"\/><a class=\"sc-cba76dee-0 hdiTqm sc-b5b9fd03-2 jcGta-D\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/by\/amber-schultz-h0wak8\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Amber Schultz<\/a> is a crime and justice reporter with The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via <a class=\"sc-cba76dee-0 hdiTqm sc-b5b9fd03-5 czsZcI\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/@AmberMaySchultz?lang=en\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">X<\/a> or <a class=\"sc-cba76dee-0 hdiTqm sc-b5b9fd03-5 czsZcI\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/national\/nsw\/mailto:am.schultz@smh.com.au\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">email<\/a>.From our partners<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":730796,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[64,63,44],"class_list":["post-730795","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-australia","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/730795","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=730795"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/730795\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/730796"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=730795"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=730795"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=730795"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}