A man was acting on the instructions of an Alexander Maconochie Centre inmate when he squeezed the throat of an outlaw motorcycle gang member's girlfriend and stole the car she was driving, a court has heard.
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Chifley man Malec Bandy denied the allegations when he appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday, pleading not guilty to charges of aggravated robbery, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and taking a motor vehicle without authority.
Magistrate James Stewart refused the 29-year-old's application for bail.
Police documents tendered to the court say Mr Bandy met the alleged victim in a car park at the National Zoo and Aquarium on Saturday afternoon.
The woman had intended to sign paperwork finalising the sale of her Volkswagen Golf to Mr Bandy, who had already been driving it for about two months, according to the documents.
While the woman was collecting paperwork from the Holden Commodore utility she had driven to the meeting, Mr Bandy allegedly told her, "I'm taking the f...ing car", and took the keys from the Commodore's ignition.
The documents allege that when the alleged victim tried to call the police, Mr Bandy reached through the driver's side window of the Commodore and grabbed her by the throat.
He allegedly squeezed the woman's throat and tried to take her phone, which she eventually handed over in an attempt to stop the attack.
Mr Bandy is accused of then grabbing the woman by the arm and pulling her out of the Commodore, before driving away in the vehicle.
An unidentified pair then approached the alleged victim, according to police, and told her to get into their car.
The duo, who had the woman's phone, allegedly would not let her out until they reached an area in Gungahlin with no CCTV cameras.
The woman then walked home and called police.
Police went to the woman's home later on Saturday afternoon and reported seeing injuries to both sides of her neck, including torn skin and bleeding.
On Sunday afternoon, officers allegedly found the Commodore in Mr Bandy's driveway.
Court documents say the 29-year-old had the keys and was trying to put a cover over the car when police arrived.
In court on Monday, Mr Stewart said the prosecution's case was that Mr Bandy had "received instructions from someone in the [Alexander Maconochie Centre]".
The court also heard the alleged victim's boyfriend was an outlaw motorcycle gang member, and was currently in custody at the jail.
Prosecutor Luke Crocker opposed bail, saying there was a risk Mr Bandy would commit offences and endanger the safety and welfare of others.
Mr Crocker also said the alleged victim had expressed fears for her safety.
Defence lawyer Tom Taylor described the allegations as "a strange and serious course of events", but said Mr Bandy "denies the criminal conduct that's alleged, absolutely".
He told the court it "would be dangerous" to reveal Mr Bandy's defence to the charges at this stage of court proceedings.
Mr Taylor said his client was "very concerned" about the prospect of being remanded in the Alexander Maconochie Centre, and that he would respect and comply with any bail conditions.
The lawyer claimed the jail was "not a pristine environment", pointing to the bashing of inmate David Laipato last month as an example.
"Acts and threats on people's lives at the AMC are very real," he said.
Mr Taylor also argued against Mr Bandy being locked up because the man acted as his father's carer.
In denying bail, Mr Stewart there was "a good level of mystery about these allegations at the moment".
He said the roles and identities of the alleged co-offenders were not clear, and there was a risk Mr Bandy would communicate with these people if granted bail.
The magistrate said he also considered Mr Bandy a flight risk because of the alleged outlaw motorcycle gang links to the incident.
"Bail is refused. That may change if this mystery becomes clearer," Mr Stewart said.
The matter is due to return to court on March 30.
