Ali Osman (criminal)
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Ali Osman (born 1988) is a Lebanese Muslim Australian who was involved in a gang assault on two Lifeguards at Cronulla Beach, Sydney on December 4, 2005 which sparked the Cronulla race riots between White [1] youths and ethnic Arabs.
Osman, a resident of Bankstown, was charged with affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm by the Sutherland Local Court on September 29, 2006 to which he plead "Not Guilty".
Osman claimed that he told police he witnessed a fight between men of Middle Eastern appearance and lifesavers and had tried to break it up.
His lawyer had also argued that a photograph of Osman lying on the beach minutes after the incident proved he was not involved and that the case had been one of mistaken identity.
Osman faced a maximum of two years in jail, but instead was sentenced to 300 hours community service on a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and 200 hours for the charge of affray, with the sentences to be served concurrently.
Osman's Counsel is currently appealing the Court Decision.
[edit] Criticism
NSW Opposition Leader Peter Debnam criticised the lenient sentence, stating that "It sends a very strong message to young thugs in NSW that any violence will be tolerated in this state."
NSW Police Minister Carl Scully also experssed his disapproval, describing the Court's verdict as "Disgusting".
