Nepali student in Sydney has been attacked in northern beaches Of Sydney. Bepin Shrestha, a 30-year-old Nepalese national, was on his way to work at Dee Why Fresh Markets in Oaks Ave in the early hours of Sunday when he was attacked and savagely bashed, leaving him with brain and facial injuries.
Mr Shrestha remained in an induced coma at Royal North Shore Hospital last night.
Divas Baniya said Mr Shrestha was a quietly spoken, diligent worker who was focused on the accounting studies that brought him to Australia a little over a year ago. Mr Baniya said Mr Shrestha, who had been living at Mosman, was planning on moving in to share his Dee Why unit within a few weeks.
He doesn’t smoke, he doesn’t go to the pub, he is very friendly to anyone,’’ Mr Baniya said yesterday.
When he didn’t have any work, we went to places together to search for jobs. He helped me a lot, and I tried to help him a lot.’’
Several employees at the market where Mr Shrestha works as a cleaner said they knew him as a softly spoken and tireless worker.
“He’ll always say hello no matter what,’’ Matt Costello from Dee Why Fresh Butchery, said.
“He’s just the type of guy who’s nice to everyone.’’
Mr Costello said Mr Shrestha assisted as a cleaner at the butcher’s shop in addition to his general cleaning duties at the market, working “three or four jobs’’ to cover the $20,000 or more he paid each year in student fees.
“He’s one of the most work-oriented guys you’ll ever meet,’’ Shaun Greening, from Dee Why Fresh Butchery, said.
“You couldn’t happen across a quieter, nicer bloke.’’
Another local businessman, who did not want to be identified, said they had “put the hat around’’ to help Mr Shrestha with his recovery.
“He’s just one of those really nice, harmless kind of blokes,’’ he said.
One of two teenagers charged with bashing Mr Shrestha is a Tongan national from Auckland who has only been in Australia on holiday for three weeks. The 17-year-old accused continues to stay with his aunt at Dee Why.
Police allege the second teen charged, Melenga Kanongataa, 19, and the youth who cannot be named for legal reasons grabbed Mr Shrestha from behind and punched him in the head and body.
After Mr Shrestha fell to the ground the pair allegedly kicked him in the head.
Northern Beaches police crime manager Craig Wonders said police believed the alleged attack was unprovoked, random and did not involve robbery.
Mr Shrestha was taken to Royal North Hospital where it is understood he remains in an induced coma and is being treated for fractures to his eye sockets and cheeks, bleeding to the brain, extensive swelling, lacerations and bruising.
A hospital spokesman yesterday confirmed he remained in a serious but stable condition.
The pair were arrested within minutes of the alleged assault after a taxi driver who was nearby called the police.
The teenagers were each charged with causing grievous bodily harm to a person with intent and recklessly causing grievous bodily harm while in company.
But while Mr Kanongata was refused bail in Manly Court on Monday, Bidura Children’s Court granted bail to the youth.
Mr Kanongataa will appear at Central Local Court tomorrow while the youth will reappear at Bidura Children’s Court on March 30.
