Attacks on Indians not racially motivated: Australian judge

MELBOURNE: An Australian court here on Tuesday ruled that the violent attacks on six Indians by a group of youths were not "racially motivated" despite one of the gang members describing it as "Punji hunting".

"The gang targeted Indian men because they were 'soft targets' and not because of a hatred of Indians," Victorian County Court Judge Liz Gaynor was quoted was saying by AAP. The seven-member gang attacked six Indians over a four-day period in December 2009 in separate robberies here.

Judge Gaynor's comments came during the sentencing of Ricky Petrusic, 19, the driver of the gang. A member of the group had described the attacks on Indians during the court hearing as "Punji hunting".

Petrusic was handed a three-year suspended jail term. after Judge Gaynor found he was "extremely shameful" and had made "extraordinary efforts" to rehabilitate himself, AAP said.

"Notwithstanding that Indians were targeted, this was not done on any basis of racial hatred, but because Indians were for some reason considered by you to be soft targets," the judge said.

"This sort of offending is all too commonplace within our community ... violent and lawless behaviour perpetrated on innocent people simply walking the street," Judge Gaynor said.

Petrusic pleaded guilty to robbery, attempted armed robbery and armed robbery.