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National

Canberra man Ali Raza Razayee denied bail after allegedly raping, choking woman he met on Tinder

A Canberra man accused of violently raping a woman he met online has been refused bail.

Ali Raza Razayee, 28, is charged with choking and sexually assaulting a woman at his home in Palmerston, in Canberra's north, last Friday.

He appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday via video link from Canberra's prison.

Police say Mr Razayee met the woman on the dating app Tinder earlier this year, and then exchanged messages on Instagram.

The pair had arranged to meet at a Braddon burger restaurant, but police say Mr Razayee changed the location of the date to his home.

The court heard the woman was driven by a friend to his residence but, before being dropped off, she asked the friend to stay in the area in case she needed help.

Police say Mr Razayee then told the woman to go into his bedroom, where he allegedly choked, bit and raped her.

Court documents say the woman said she had told Mr Razayee "I don't want to", and tried to scream and free herself, but he covered her mouth.

After the alleged assault, the court heard the woman sent "panicked messages" to her friend who had dropped her off, asking to be picked up.

The friend later drove her to Gungahlin police station, where officers took photos of the woman, who appeared to have scratches and red marks on her skin.

The court also heard the woman needed medical treatment for vaginal tears. 

Police searched Mr Razayee's home on Sunday and said they seized two mobile phones, a fitted bed sheet and a pair of shorts.

Officers then arrested him.

During the court hearing, Mr Razayee repeatedly interrupted proceedings to say "I didn't do it".

He applied for bail but Magistrate Beth Campbell refused it, saying the allegations against him were "extraordinarily serious".

A defence lawyer told the magistrate Mr Razayee strongly denied the charges and was "deeply disturbed by the allegations raised against him".

The lawyer rejected the suggestion the pair had first met on Tinder, saying they had met at a gym last year before having a consensual sexual relationship.

The court heard Mr Razayee agreed that the pair had sex last Friday but "frames it as consensual".

He will return to court in February.

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