A man who police allege was the "ringleader" of a violent rape attack against two sex workers in Canberra has been committed to stand trial in the ACT Supreme Court.
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Rashid Mohamud Abuuh, 23, pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual intercourse without consent, threatening to inflict grievous bodily harm with an intent to have sex, and aggravated robbery over the ordeal in March 2016.
It's alleged he was in the company of two other men, who have also been charged, when they attacked the two women in a Reid apartment.
Police alleged in a statement of facts the sex workers were threatened at knifepoint, stripped of their clothes and repeatedly raped by the three men during the attack, after one of the accused booked a "full service".
After the men stormed the apartment, a third woman inside had sent a series of text messages to a friend which read: "Tell police", "quick, quick, quick" and "there are lots of them here", court documents stated.
Co-accused Mohammad Alabbasi, 21, and his brother Ahmed Alabbasi, also known as Khaled Alabbasi , 31, await trial on charges linked to the alleged attack.
Magistrate Robert Cook committed Abuuh to stand trial in the higher court when he faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday.
Abuuh's bail was revoked briefly in October after he breached his curfew and it emerged he'd bought a one-way plane ticket to Somalia while on bail for the offences.
He allegedly got a quote for the plane ticket from Escape Travel at Belconnen less than two hours after police served him with a summons to face court on charges linked to the alleged assault.
Abuuh has since been released from custody on strict conditions.
Defence lawyer Tim Sharman said on Friday Abuuh had been reporting to police as required and asked for his client's bail conditions, which included a curfew and daily reporting to police, to be relaxed.
Mr Sharman argued the restrictions had negatively impacted on Abuuh's ability to socialise and limited his employment opportunities.
The application was opposed by prosecutor Katie McCann, who said while Abuuh had initially been considered a minor player in the alleged offences, fresh information from police had suggested he may have been the "ringleader" or main offender.
She said Abuuh remained a flight risk and his reporting condition and a curfew were vital to minimise the risk he would commit similar offences or flee.
"These are extremely serious violent sexual offences that are alleged," she said.
Ms McCann said it wasn't good enough to claim Abuuh's social life was affected by restrictions and there was simply no basis to remove the existing measures.
Mr Cook noted the allegations were serious and said the accused had a history of failing to comply with court orders.
He denied the application to vary the conditions.
"The risk, clearly, is too great."
Abuuh's matter will be mentioned in the Supreme Court for the first time later this month.
