On the evening of March 28, a brawl occurred at the Villawood Detention Centre involving approximately 15 detainees, with four of them receiving injuries which required hospital care.
Immediately after the incident, staff at the centre allegedly found three improvised sharp-edged weapons. The AFP undertook an investigation which included witness interviews and the extensive review of CCTV and security footage.
The eight men aged between 22 and 36 years old are foreign nationals and were arrested last week.
It will be alleged in court all men were active participants in the incident, which included offences against centre staff attempting to break up the incident.
They were all charged with causing an affray contrary to the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).
Additionally, a 22-year-old man was charged with causing harm to a Commonwealth public official contrary to section 147.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
The maximum sentence for both offences is 10 years’ imprisonment.
Bust eight over brawl
THE Australian Federal Police (AFP) has charged eight men after a brawl at the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre earlier this year.