A young Iranian asylum seeker who claims she has been molested by a Wilson Security employee and assaulted by local police on Nauru has made an emotional plea to be evacuated to Australia, while her lawyer, the AMA and a leading psychiatrist believe she is at extreme risk of suicide.
Jazmin*, who is experiencing internal bleeding as a result of an aggravated cyst, spoke to SBS via a secure video link from her tent in Nauru's regional processing centre.
"The doctor says I need surgery on my cyst," she said, clearly distressed. "But they won't take me to Australia or PNG. They say I have to stay here."
Heavily medicated and visibly scarred by self-harm, Jazmin has been hiding in her tent for fear of further attacks, as the federal government reels from to ‘The Guardian’ revealing thousands of incident reports containing allegations of sexual assault on women and children.
Last week, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton dismissed The Guardian's reports of abuse as "hype". His department has told SBS that Jazmin's claims have been investigated and are “not substantiated”.
However, her claims are documented within hundreds of pages of her official medical reports obtained by SBS.
SBS understands her treatment is now subject of an assessment by the Commonwealth Ombudsman.
The latest reports from International Health and Medical Services, the private health care provider contracted by the Immigration Department, report "a marked decline" in Jazmin's mental functioning.
"They just attacked me and pushed me; I screamed and everyone in the camp was watching me and crying."
HMS nurses note recurring psychotic episodes and fearfulness, and say her risk of self-harm as "high". Mental health nurses have reported they are "unable to guarantee her safety".
Psychiatrist Professor Louise Newman, who was on the Federal Government's Immigration Health Advisory Group before it was disbanded in 2013, conducted interviews with Jazmin at the request of her Sydney-based lawyer, George Newhouse. Professor Newman believes Jazmin's mental state was consistent with the results of traumatic rape.
Scarring on Jazmin’s legs and arms were noted by IHMS staff in documents obtained by SBS. Source: Supplied
Jazmin has told Mr Newhouse she has been raped.
"I speak with women almost every night who are being subjected to sexual assault on Nauru," Professor Newman told SBS.
Jazmin says she was sexually assaulted numerous times - in one instance "touched inappropriately" by a Wilson Security employee.
"I [tried to make a] complaint for [an] investigation by police and I talk to an officer, but they say [no]."
In a statement to SBS, Wilson Security said it was "aware of the complaints and allegations" and that "evidence was provided to the Senate Inquiry into the Regional Processing Centre at Nauru".
Do you know more: SBSinvestigations@sbs.com.au
"All incidents were thoroughly investigated," a Wilson media officer said.
In another alleged assault, Jazmin said a contingent of Nauruan police entered the regional processing centre and attacked her as horrified refugees looked on.
"They just attacked me and pushed me; I screamed and everyone in the camp was watching me and crying. It was terrible."
The Australian-based Doctors For Refugees said the assault lasted for 15 minutes. "She was held down and beaten by police officers and guards while wearing only underwear and a top," reads a letter from Dr Barri Phatarfod, the organisation's convenor.
SBS has obtained photographs of bruising on Jazmin which were apparently sustained in the assault.
On the weekend, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten challenged Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to visit Nauru with him to investigate the reports of abuse.
Mr Shorten said Mr Turnbull needed to urgently address the resettlement of asylum seekers trapped on Nauru.
An Australian man has told SBS of witnessing a third attack in which three local men attempted to pull Jazmin from his car while he was taking her to buy groceries.
"I'm positive that if I wasn't there, they would have raped her," the man said. SBS has chosen to protect the man's identity.
"I left the car for literally two minutes, and when I came back they were trying to rip her out of the car. One of the guys managed to get inside the vehicle."
The man said the attack was reported to IHMS, a Wilson shift boss and an Immigration case manager.
Jazmin says she fled Iran three years ago after being targeted by a member of the feared basij paramilitary who threatened her with rape unless her family paid him bribes that they couldn't afford.
SBS sent detailed questions about Jazmin's case to Mr. Dutton’s ministerial office, but the reply came from the Immigration Department.
"The Department is aware of the allegations raised and can confirm that all allegations have been investigated and are not substantiated," a spokesperson said by email.
"The Department takes allegations of sexual assault very seriously and immediately refers them to the appropriate authorities for investigation – as required, these allegations were referred to the Nauru Police Force.
"Health and welfare arrangements, including mental health, are in place to support transferees. This individual is receiving care commensurate with her needs."
Attempts to reach police on Nauru, where Skype is blocked and journalists are effectively shut out, were unsuccessful.
"The Department is aware of the allegations raised and can confirm that all allegations have been investigated and are not substantiated." Source: AAP
George Newhouse, the principal solicitor for the National Justice Project, told SBS that his client needed immediate medical evacuation.
"She's vulnerable to male predation," Mr Newhouse said. "This young woman's health is being compromised for political reasons."
'A marked decline'
SBS understands that the Australian Medical Association has written to Immigration Department officials asking if Jazmin would be transferred for specialised medical treatment.
The department's surgeon general, Dr John Brayley, made no indication that Jazmin would be moved to the mainland.
In a letter seen by SBS, Dr Brayley wrote that the IHMS "did not consider [Jazmin] to have a primary psychotic disorder" and instead noted "personality traits that could explain her clinical presentation".
However, Professor Newman told SBS: "To describe this traumatised woman as having a personality-related condition is inaccurate and a misuse of psychiatric labels for political purposes."
When Jazmin arrived on Nauru three years ago, a medical induction form written by IHMS found her psychological state to be "normal". The latest assessments show "a marked decline" in her mental functioning.
SBS has obtained hundreds of pages of medical documentation including IHMS reports detailing Jazmin's mental decline, as well as gynecological reports and correspondence between Dr Brayley and concerned members of the AMA.
"Jazmin states that she was touched inappropriately and this was not the first time."
One record, dated February 4, 2015 reads: "Does not feel safe on Nauru... [Jazmin] states that she was touched inappropriately [by a Wilson emloyee] and this was not the first time this has happened to her".
Another, dated February 21, reported that Jazmin "believed police were coming back to hit and slap her as she alleged happened days ago" and that she was "overtly fearful of police attacks and retaliation" while suffering from "stress induced/anxiety state post incident with police 10 days ago".
A third IHMS report, under the subheading "Subjective", reported the following on August 18 last year: "[Jazmin] reported several recent intrusions / assaults on her person that have been very upsetting for her.
"[She] also says that the lack of action to her reports and complaints make it harder to cope with. She was still visibly traumatised by the memory of events; crying and shaking...There were many reliable witnesses who provided statements to security."
On February 11, a treating GP noted that "according to patient, 'two nights ago Nauru police went to her tent and beat her back and pushed her down the sand... Personnels (sic) at RPC3 and other people apparently witnessed the scene. Will tell her case manager about it tomorrow. Have pictures of the incident".
An excerpt of Professor Newman's assessment reads: "[Jazmin] demonstrates clear features of an acute stress response consistent with severe trauma."
"Her account of events is consistent with that of someone who has indeed been overwhelmed by traumatic experience,” Professor Newman reported. “It appears in my discussions with [Jazmin] that she is in a situation where she feels in constant danger and at risk of further attack."
The Melbourne-based psychiatrist's report advised that Jazmin remained at "extreme" risk of suicide if she stayed on Nauru.
A death in May
Jazmin's video account follows a massive data leak to The Guardian detailing hundreds of incident reports logging complaints of rape and sexual abuse against women and minors.
Mr Newhouse said the allegations against Nauruan police and Wilson Security staff needed to be investigated by the Australian Federal Police.
"No one has investigated these assaults," he said. "I think there is a real problem with Nauruan police investigating these crimes.
"It's time for the Government to send the federal police in, and allow them to investigate allegations of sexual assault on vulnerable women on Nauru."
Newhouse also voiced concerns for other asylum seekers on the island who have been prevented from being flown to Australia for medical treatment.
Last week, reports emerged that at least a dozen asylum seekers on Nauru needing medical care were blocked from being flown to better facilities in Papua New Guinea.
The Supreme Court of PNG ruled in April that hosting the Manus Island detention centre was "illegal and unconstitutional".
"The Australian Government has clearly got a political problem bringing them to Australia," Mr Newhouse said.
"It looks like, with the Supreme Court action in PNG now, they've got a problem in taking them to PNG. And what that means is: people that need urgent medical attention are not getting it."
A new report by the University of Melbourne has found that rates of self-harm among asylum seekers in 200 times more than Australian rates. Source: Department of Immigration
Mr Newhouse said his pro-bono firm was currently investigating the death of a Bangladeshi man who suffered cardiac arrest while waiting for medical evacuation from Nauru in May.
"We understand that there were urgent calls for a medical evacuation to PNG and Australia, and they were delayed," he said.
"That man died waiting for a medical evacuation. I'm very worried that other people could die from a result of the government stalling on medical treatment."
She says she has also witnessed the sexual abuse of other detainees, including children.
"I need the doctor to help me," she told SBS. "I don't want to take the pills anymore."
When asked to recount the abuse she had seen inflicted on child detainees, Jazmin became visibly distressed and began crying.
Seconds later, connection on the video link was lost.
*The detainee’s name has been changed for security reasons.
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact on 1300 224 636, on 13 11 14 or on 1300 659 467.
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