Bilal Skaf () (born 14 September 1981) is an Australian serial gang rapist who led groups of men to commit gang rape attacks against women and girls in Sydney in 2000.
For his crimes, Skaf is serving a 31-year prison sentence with a non-parole period of 28 years, and will be eligible for parole in 2033. He was originally sentenced to 55 years with a 40-year non-parole period,
Early life
Skaf's mother, Baria, worked as a cleaner and aged care worker, and his father, Mustapha, worked for State Rail Authority in Sydney, gaining a good reputation among his colleagues. Bilal attended Strathfield South High School in Enfield, New South Wales, and left school at 14. He worked as a spray painter before his father used his own good employment record to get his son on the State Rail payroll. That was despite Bilal having been convicted for shoplifting, theft and carjackings.
Gang rapes
In 2000, Bilal Skaf led a gang that engaged in a series of gang rapes in Sydney against women and girls as young as 14 years. In 2002, nine men, including Skaf, were sentenced to a total of more than 240 years' jail.
Skaf was engaged at the time of his arrest and although his fiancée stood by him during his trial, she ended their engagement soon after his conviction. Skaf's response was to sketch cartoons depicting his former fiancée being raped and murdered. NSW Attorney General Bob Debus decided that the government would seek leave for an appeal to the High Court of Australia against the sentence reduction. An earlier appeal had already reduced his sentence to 46 years, after a successful appeal against one of his convictions. A further appeal led to a 31-year sentence being imposed.
Family
Bilal Skaf is the brother of Mohammed Skaf, also a gang rape attacker sentenced to 32 years' jail for his part in the attacks. Bilal and Mohammed are the sons of Mustapha and Baria Skaf, who emigrated to Australia from Lebanon in the 1970s.
Prison life
Bilal Skaf began his sentence in Sydney's Long Bay Correctional Centre but was soon moved to maximum security in Goulburn Gaol after prison officers uncovered plans by fellow inmates to inject him with HIV-infected blood.
In March 2003, he was charged with writing a threatening letter to Corrective Services NSW Commissioner, Ron Woodham.
According to prison guards, Skaf thought that he would be given a hero's welcome by Lebanese inmates such as the gangland murderer Michael Kanaan. Instead, he was targeted by them for bringing disgrace to their community.
According to Commissioner Woodham, Skaf has not shown remorse for his crimes. He also says Skaf has warned prison officers to be careful outside of work, as they may be shot.