DAR AL HARB - AUSTRALIA: 8 & 9 YR OLD GIRLS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY A MOSLEM

Police praise public help
Paul Anderson

A MAN has been arrested after an "absolute flood" of calls over an indecent assault on a young girl at Chadstone shopping centre.Media coverage of the attack in a Myer clothing change room last Wednesday prompted the calls to Crime Stoppers, and on Saturday detectives arrested student Mohammad Khan.

Mr Khan, 22, was working at a Clayton supermarket when sexual crimes squad detectives arrested him about 6.45pm. He was detained without resistance.

"I'd say he was very surprised to see us," Acting Det-Insp Simon Clemence said yesterday.

Security footage of a suspect appeared on TV and in newspapers after a man was seen carrying children's clothing into a change room where two sisters, aged 8 and 9, were sexually assaulted. Mr Khan, of Springvale, was taken to the St Kilda Rd police complex, where he was charged with single counts of child abduction and false imprisonment, and three counts each of committing an indecent act with a child, committing an indecent act in the presence of a child and indecent assault.

The Indian national is believed to have been living in Australia for about a year on a student visa.

"I would like to thank the public for their support," Acting Det-Insp Clemence said yesterday. He said the arrest proved the public played a crucial role in investigations.

"The public are the eyes and ears of Victoria Police," he said.

"We really appreciate the public support . . . these people were attempting to assist Victoria Police."

Acting Det-Insp Clemence said the Chadstone case was a reminder for parents to remain vigilant, so as to thwart would-be sex attackers.

"We don't want to cause panic in the community . . . but obviously if you've got young children, it would be advisable to keep them in line of sight at all times, wherever possible, in a public place," he said.

"I'm not suggesting a supermarket or a large store like Myer is necessarily a place of danger.

"These are very rare occurrences. It's just wise to keep a line of sight with young kids."

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