Alleged rapist DiDi driver accused of kidnapping a teenage girl is unmasked by the Daily Mail – as it’s revealed he was quietly freed from jail… even the judge didn’t know
A DiDi rideshare driver accused of kidnapping and raping a teenage girl in his vehicle has been granted bail – but nobody told the judge who heard his case on Thursday.
Mongolian national Amarbayasgalan Yondonlodoi was listed to appear in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court via audio-visual link from prison, however, he instead turned up in person and walked freely in and out of court.
Judge Hugh Donnelly said his papers had Yondonlodoi marked as being in custody, but it turned out the 51-year-old had been granted bail in the same court on June 12.
Yondonlodoi, who required a Mongolian interpreter for Thursday’s appearance, should not have even been in Australia if not for the fact his visa refusal was recently overturned.
The 51-year-old was arrested after he dropped off a passenger at Sydney Airport on June 3 and charged with kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl the previous day.
The teen passenger had been on her way to work in North Sydney when Yondonlodoi allegedly picked her up about 7.30am.
About 20 minutes into the journey, Yondonlodoi allegedly pulled over his vehicle in Carlow Street, climbed into the rear of the car and sexually assaulted her.
The girl was taken to hospital, while Yondonlodoi continued working with the rideshare company until his apprehension.
DiDi rideshare driver Amarbayasgalan Yondonlodoi, who is accused of kidnapping and raping a teenage girl in his vehicle, has been granted bail – but nobody told the judge set to hear his case on Thursday. He is pictured outside court
Mongolian national Amarbayasgalan Yondonlodoi was listed to appear in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court via audio-visual link from prison but turned up in person
Yondonlodoi was arrested at Sydney Airport on June 3 (above) and charged with kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl the previous day
He has been charged with aggravated sexual assault – deprive liberty and taking or detaining a person with intent to obtain advantage, causing actual bodily harm.
Having initially been refused bail, it emerged on Monday that Yondonlodoi had been back living in the community for almost seven weeks.
Judge Greg Grogin granted Yondonlodoi bail on conditions including that he surrender his passport, not enter any international point of departure and not go near or contact any prosecution witness.
He was also required to report to Mascot police station three days a week.
Once his case was adjourned until September, Yondonlodoi left the court with a woman and was joined by his lawyer, who attempted to stop the Daily Mail taking pictures.
The lawyer took photographs of a Daily Mail reporter on his phone, held up a manila folder in an attempt to block the view of his client and threatened to call police.
DiDi released a statement following Yondonlodoi’s arrest confirming he had been ‘immediately suspended’.
‘We worked closely with law enforcement in its investigation into the matter,’ the company said.
Judge Hugh Donnelly said his papers had Yondonlodoi marked as being in custody but it turned out the 51-year-old had been granted bail in the same court on June 12
Yondonlodoi’s lawyer took photographs of a Daily Mail reporter (above), held up a manila folder in an attempt to block the view of his client and threatened to call police
‘We will continue to work with law enforcement and the regulator in their continued investigations and provide support to the passenger when needed.’
After Yondonlodoi’s arrest it was revealed the Department of Home Affairs previously rejected a joint student visa application from him, his wife and another relative.
According to court documents, Yondonlodoi’s wife was listed on the visa application as the primary applicant, with her husband as the second applicant.
The application was refused by a Home Affairs delegate who did not deem Yondonlodoi’s wife to be a genuine applicant for entry and to stay as a student.
The family lodged an appeal with the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART).
It earlier this year overturned the original ruling and ordered the joint visa application be reconsidered.
The tribunal was satisfied Yondonlodoi’s wife was a genuine applicant for entry and to stay under the Subclass 500 (Student) visa.
That decision led to Yondonlodoi and the other relative’s applications to be treated the same way, ‘on the basis of being a member of her family unit’.
Once his case was adjourned until September, Yondonlodoi left the court with a woman and was joined by his lawyer, who attempted to stop the Daily Mail taking pictures
Accused DiDi driver rapist Amarbayasgalan Yondonlodoi in a court sketch from Thursday
An ART spokesperson said the tribunal considered each case on its merits.
‘In conducting its review, the tribunal takes a fresh look at the facts, and takes into account any new information, and submissions of the applicants and the minister when applying the relevant law and policy,’ they told The Daily Telegraph.
Yondonlodoi’s case renewed calls from the federal opposition for the Albanese government to review its migration and visa procedures.
‘If a visa is cancelled because someone should clearly not be in this country, a tribunal should not be routinely overturning such decisions,’ Opposition Home Affairs spokesman Jonno Duniam said.
‘The Albanese government need to be fully transparent about the circumstances of this case, and the reasons why the ART (a body they created) thought it was appropriate for this individual to remain in Australia.’
