Pakistani Defence Academy cadet's indecency charge dismissed

Sydney, July 25 (ANI): An Australian court has dismissed an indecency charge against a Pakistani cadet for trying to film a female student in the shower of the Australian Defence Force Academy (AFDA), after the prosecution was unable to prove its case.

International cadet Obaid Fayyaz, 22, said in a statement that it was the toughest ordeal of his life and urged the media and the Australian Government to help him get compensation, reports the Canberra Times.

"It is a big relief for me to come out of this allegation as innocent. For that, I must appreciate the Australian judicial system. Justice has been done," Fayyaz said.

"However, now that I have come out of this as innocent, I trust the media and the Australian Government will help me rebuild and compensate for the loss I have suffered," he added.

Fayyaz was arrested in August last year and charged with committing an act of indecency in the presence of the woman after she discovered his mobile phone in a shower vent at ADFA.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge and his defence team made a "no-case" submission during his trial in the ACT Magistrates Court, arguing the matter should be dismissed.

It was not disputed that Fayyaz set his mobile phone to record and left it in the vent of a shower at the academy.

The female cadet noticed it there 10 minutes later when she went to shower and alerted supervisors.

But Fayyaz's barrister, John Harris SC, argued that his client did not have the necessary intent to commit the alleged offence.

The court heard it could not be established that the young man had committed an act of indecency "in the presence" of the woman because he had pressed the record button on his mobile phone and left the room.

Magistrate Peter Dingwall agreed, saying prosecution could not prove the act was committed in the alleged victim's presence. (ANI)