Two men who allegedly raped two female sex workers during a violent attack in Canberra earlier this year have pleaded not guilty.
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Rashid Mohamud Abuuh, 23, and Mohammad Alabbasi, 21, faced the ACT Magistrates Court on multiple charges stemming from an alleged incident on March 12.
Abduuh was charged with two counts of sexual intercourse without consent, threatening to inflict grievous bodily harm with an intent to have sex and aggravated robbery.
Abduuh, who appeared by summons and was not legally represented, initially asked for a three-week adjournment.
He later pleaded not guilty to all four charges.
Prosecutor Katrina McKenzie asked he be placed on bail "given the seriousness of the charges".
He was released on condition he not leave his Florey home at night, report weekly to Belconnen police station, not access the websites Cracker or Backpage and not contact any sex worker.
Alabbasi, who was in custody, pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual intercourse without consent, threatening grievous bodily harm with an intent to have sex, and assault.
Prosecutors dropped a charge of aiding an aggravated robbery.
Alabbasi was also charged with theft linked to a separate incident at Casey service station in March. He did not enter a plea.
Both men's matters linked to the alleged attack in March will return to court on December 20, when prosecutors indicated they would each likely be committed to the Supreme Court.
The court heard the pair had committed the alleged offences in the company of another man, named in court as Khaled Al Abbasi.
Ahmed Al Abbasi, also known as Khaled Al Abbasi, 31, pleaded not guilty to three charges of rape and two sexual assault offences allegedly committed against two sex workers and in the company of two other men on March 12.
ACT Policing said in a statement last month he had been charged as part of an extensive investigation into multiple reports of violent sexual assaults targeting female sex workers across Canberra.
Police said at the time more victims had since come forward and they believed other women may have been affected.
Anyone with information can contact ACT Policing on 131 444 or via Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
