Mahab Kassim Kerow aka Mahad Cassim
Convicted Of Rape : On Evidence Not Sexuality
There were 2 trials against Cassim (Kerow) for the rape of Jemma. The first trial the Jury could not reach a majority decision. The second trial was a unanimous decision of guilty. The charges against Jemma in relation to Cassim are doubled to 4, due to the retrial. 4 of the 8 charges against Jemma relate to Cassim.
He was found guilty not because of Jemma's sexuality, the focus of the charge against Jemma, but as is widely believed, because of the additional lies
that were exposed in the second trial.
That he did in fact know the morning after the incident that he was wanted by Police for rape, but went on the run for 9 months; and his description of the incident location with no trees.
DC Lewis, the officer now prosecuting Jemma and who led the prosecution against Cassim, emptied the evidence bag containing Jemma's clothes onto a table in the Court.
The Jury then single file walked past the clothes, to see all of the leaves and smell the pine needles. DC Lewis also went to the scene to double check that there was in fact trees at the location. He confirmed there was.
Source:
Trial Transcript : R v Cassim : January 2012
Police : ROTI Mahab Kassim Kerow aka Mahad Cassim : 9 September 2011
Knowingly On The Run For 9 Months
Cassim was informed by his friend via telephone the morning after the incident that the Police were looking for him.
In the call, when he was told the Police were looking for him, Cassim replied "for what, rape?". The Police did not tell anyone the reason why they were looking for Cassim.
Cassim had telephone conversations with DC Lewis, investigating Officer, arranging times for Cassim to meet him.
Cassim's family had called him numerous times, following their homes being repeatedly raided by Police looking for him.
Cassim was eventually arrested 9 months later, 9 August 2011, when spotted in the street by a plainclothes Police officer who knew he was wanted for rape and recognised him as Mahab Kerow and also by his alias of Mahad Cassim.
Source:
Trial Transcript : R v Cassim : January 2012
Police : ROTI Mahab Kassim Kerow aka Mahad Cassim : 9 September 2011
DC Lewis Statement : 6 March 2017
PC Crossley Statement : 8 July 2016
Denied Intercourse : She Was Too Drunk To Consent
When interviewed by Police, Cassim continuously states that he acted like a gentleman, with no sexual contact of any kind, as Jemma was too drunk to consent.
Source:
Trial Transcript : R v Cassim : January 2012
Police : ROTI Mahab Kassim Kerow aka Mahad Cassim : 9 September 2011
Changed Story When DNA Presented
Police made Cassim the suspect due to a DNA match found on the Police database, to his semen taken internally from Jemma.
Having denied any sexual contact, because of Jemma being too drunk to consent, Cassim changed his story following this DNA disclosure.
He now claims it was all consensual and that he lied because he was afraid to tell the truth.
From talking freely and openly, now on the advice of his solicitor, he just states "no comment".
Source:
Trial Transcript : R v Cassim : January 2012
Police : ROTI Mahab Kassim Kerow aka Mahad Cassim : 9 September 2011
FSS DNA Report : 24 December 2010
Real Name Of Mahab Kassim Kerow Revealed
Mahab Kassim Kerow uses the alias name of Mahad Cassim.
His false name was clearly known to Police prior to his arrest, as noted in Police statements.
He signed his prepared statement during interview as Mahab Kassim Kerow. His interview statement refers to Kerow.
Yet he was charged under his false name Mahad Cassim.
All court papers, evidence given in Court, statements, probation reports, press reports, refer to him as Mahad Cassim.
BBC TV interview was with disguised voice, face blacked out and used the name Cassim.
There has been no explanation provided for this. With other lies identified and comments in probation reports, it beggars the question, what is he hiding from?
Source:
Trial Transcript : R v Cassim : January 2012
Police : ROTI Mahab Kassim Kerow aka Mahad Cassim : 9 September 2011
Police : DC Lewis Statement : 6 March 2017
Police : PC Crossley Statement : 8 July 2016
Police : PC Spring Statement : 10 August 2011
Swedish Army In Bosnia Lie
Aged 10, Cassim moved to Sweden in 1990 to be with his Mother, a Swedish national, entitling him to Swedish nationality.
Cassim moved to the UK following a holiday in 2002.
Aged 18, after finishing his education, Cassim found work in a factory in Sweden where he remained until he moved to the UK in 2002, aged 23.
In the both trials against him, led by his defending Barrister and in cross examination, Cassim confirmed he could speak a number of languages, including Bosnian; because he was in the Swedish Army on a peacekeeping mission training NATO forces in Bosnia.
The war in Bosnia took place from 6 April 1992 ending 14 December 1995. Cassim would have been 12 to 15 years old.
Research shows the first Swedish soldiers entered Bosnia in September 1993 and they left the region in December 1999. Cassim would have been 13 to 19 years old.
From age 18 to 23, Cassim worked in a Swedish factory.
Source:
Trial Transcript : R v Cassim : December 2011
Trial Transcript : R v Cassim : January 2012
Probation Pre-Sentence Report : February 2012
Southwark Police Station Lie
Cassim went to Southwark Police station to report a burglary and the theft of his two mobile phones and other possessions. His asked the Police officer to check if he was wanted by the Police for anything. They said "no".
He asked Police officers outside his sisters home, providing his full name and address. They also said he was not wanted for anything.
There was clearly a warrant out for his arrest and had he checked with any Police officer, he would have been arrested on the spot.
There would also be a record of any searches made on the PNC.
Another man accused by Jemma, Luke Williams, unknown by Cassim and years apart, also claimed to have gone to a Police station, to see if he was wanted by the Police and told "no", when there were in fact a number of warrants for his arrest.
Source:
Police : ROTI Mahab Kassim Kerow aka Mahad Cassim : 9 September 2011
Police : DC Lynott Statement : 9 February 2017
Probation Report : High Risk To Women
Following conviction for the rape of Jemma, the Probation Service provided a Pre-Sentence Report, which also included a recognised and universally used risk assessment, "The Risk Matrix 2000".
The following are direct quotes from the Probation Officer within the Pre-Sentence Report:
"inconsistencies in Mr Cassim's version of events",
"in my view, Mr Cassim clearly took advantage of the victim, knowing she was heavily intoxicated and vulnerable",
"Mr Cassim reports that his last relationship ended two weeks prior to the current offence. He denies any history of domestic violence",
"it is my assessment that Mr Cassim may hold distorted views towards women and relationships",
"Mr Cassim has been assessed as posing a high risk of harm to females, the risk being serious sexual assault",
"risk is likely to be greatest when Mr Cassim considers that his sexual needs are not being met, and creates an opportunity to be alone with vulnerable women",
"the risk of engaging in future sexual offending behaviour has been assessed as high".
In his Police interview, Cassim makes reference to the female officers arresting him and his comment to them:
"your lucky my handcuffs are on ... I'm a diabetic I can lose my temper easily".
Source:
Probation Pre-Sentence Report : February 2012
Police : ROTI Mahab Kassim Kerow aka Mahad Cassim : 9 September 2011
CPS Perfected Response To Cassim Appeal
A formal document outlining why Cassim should not be released through his appeal, entitled "Perfected Response to Appeal", was prepared by Jonathan Wright, Barrister representing the CPS prosecution of Cassim in both trials.
With his "CPS hat on", Mr Wright states the evidence of the case against Jemma:
"subsequent history ........ does not mean that she is now incapable of belief in respect of her evidence against Mahad Cassim"
"does not inevitably mean that she was being untruthful in her evidence against Mahad Cassim".
Divided opinion within the CPS.
Source:
Perfected Response to Appeal : 5 September 2014