Suspect in rape of Brooklyn woman at knife point released due to ‘procedural loophole’

25-year-old Mohammed Alwi was arrested as an accomplice to the Dec. 23 attack on a 49-year-old woman.

According to police, Mohammed Izzeddin, 22, sexually assaulted the worker while Alwi showed a knife to keep two other patrons of the business “under control.”

Alwi has been charged with rape, robbery, sexual abuse, unlawful imprisonment, forcible touching, menacing, assault, and harassment.

The victim, who doesn’t speak English, told WPIX 11, “I had not rested for 24 hours. not at all, on any day since because I could not calm down, and now I am slowly adjusting. I think I may see a psychiatrist next.”

She continued, “When I opened the door, the bad guy hit me in the face very hard. I was afraid of hurting the other two girls, so I opened the door for him.”

She added that Izzeddin also choked her before he and Alwi stole $300 in cash and then stated that Izzeddin raped her while Alwi held the two other workers at bay with a knife and ordered them to remain silent.

After the duo fled with the money, the victim was taken to the hospital.

On Thursday, Izzeddin was taken into custody on the same charges as Alwi and, according to The New York Daily News, yelled as police took him out of a precinct and claimed the business was “a prostitution spot!”

According to The New York Post, Izzedin pleaded not guilty during his arraignment, and though bail was set at $20,000 cash, $150,000 insured bond or $150,000 partially secured surety bond, he was released Wednesday due to a procedural loophole. His lawyer argued that when he was arraigned, the deadline for the District Attorney to file his indictment was scheduled for Wednesday but should have been scheduled for Tuesday, due to the amount of time between when Izzeddin was placed into police custody and when he was officially arrested and formal charges filed.

Judge Christopher Robles agreed and Izzeddin was granted supervised release.