Abdul Benbrika’s son sentenced over assault

The son of terrorist leader Abdul Nacer Benbrika has had his life “overshadowed” by the notoriety of his father, a magistrate said as he sentenced him over a violent ambush on a stranger.

Ibrahim Benbrika, 26, will be immediately released from prison after already serving his six-month sentence on remand over the incident in January 2025.

Benbrika and his co-accused, Oways Afane, 24, who pleaded guilty to robbery and assault, were motivated by “vigilante justice”, the court heard, claiming the 43-year-old victim was a known paedophile.

Benbrika was five years old when his father Abdul Nacer Benbrika was arrested over his role as leader of an Islamic extremist terror cell plotting attacks on Australian soil. He was sentenced in 2009 to 15 years in prison for terror offences.

The Melbourne Magistrates’ Court heard that, despite strong family and community support following his father’s arrest, Benbrika experienced “significant” bullying at school, later resulting in his expulsion at age 15.

“You have had to carry the burden of your family name,” magistrate James FitzGerald said.

In September 2024, the victim began messaging a Facebook profile named “Holly”, with the pair exchanging messages to organise a paid sexual encounter.

“Holly” and the victim arranged to meet at 11pm at Green Gully Reserve in Keilor Downs in January 2025.

Instead, the victim was ambushed by Benbrika, Afane and a third co-accused, Michel el-Chikhani, 24, all wearing black clothing and balaclavas. They punched the victim in the face, sending him to the ground, where they kicked and beat him while demanding his money and mobile phone.

They then dragged the victim to his car, unlocking it, stealing a power bank, wallet, phone and several licences. After transferring $250 out of his bank account, the trio threw away the car keys and fled the scene.

Several videos were recorded during the attack, including an 11-second video of Benbrika pinning the victim to the ground, and a 29-second video showing Benbrika holding a phone to the victim’s face.

Another video depicted el-Chikhani holding a hunting knife to the man’s throat while Afane kicked his head. In a fourth clip, Afane can be heard berating the victim as he cleaned blood from himself.

In sentencing, the magistrate dismissed any supposed vigilante justification, describing the attack as “calculated”, “vicious” and “utterly unacceptable”.

“You may claim to the victim being a known paedophile. The consequence of that to your mind, presumably, is that you were somehow entitled to engage in the offending,” he said.

The court heard Benbrika has been kept in protective custody through the duration of his remand due to the attention of his father’s case.

“Your upbringing has been affected, through no fault of your own, by your father’s notoriety,” FitzGerald said.

He has worked as a roof plumber since leaving school and, before his arrest, lived with his wife and two children.

FitzGerald acknowledged that Benbrika had sought counselling for drug addiction and PTSD.

He also accepted that Benbrika regretted his actions, however noted: “The remorse referred to appears to be centred on the effect your imprisonment has had on you and your family, rather than the victim of your low, cowardly, and violent behaviour.”

Benbrika received a 160-day jail term and an 18-month community corrections order. Afane was sentenced to 180 days’ prison and a six-month corrections order.

El-Chikhani’s sentencing was adjourned to a later date.

FitzGerald rejected Afane’s submission that his religious observance acted as a protective factor for his sentencing. “Your behaviour was low, violent, cowardly and criminally cunning,” the magistrate said. “It is an affront to any religion.”

The pair, both appearing on separate video links, smiled after learning they would be released.

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