Assault and public drunkenness charges have been dropped against a Yarra City Greens councillor following an altercation with another woman at a South Yarra nightclub last year.

Anab Mohamud has lashed out at Victoria Police over its handling of the incident outside Chasers nightclub in April 2021, which left her with serious facial injuries.

City of Yarra councillor Anab Mohamud.

“I did not commit the crimes I was charged with, and the police decision to withdraw makes clear that these charges never should have been brought in the first place,” Mohamud said in a statement.

Mohamud, who came to Australia as a Somali refugee more than 20 years ago, accused police of racial profiling.

“When you’re the victim of a sexual assault or a violent crime, police should be there to protect you, not prosecute you,” Mohamud said.

“Yet sadly things like this happen on a regular basis to people like me. Racist profiling regularly leads police to target Muslims, black people and people of colour.

The charges of assault, offensive behaviour and public drunkenness were all withdrawn during a hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

A Victoria Police spokesman said the charges had been dropped because the complainant had advised police that she did not wish to pursue the charges.

“It was determined without this there was no reasonable prospect of a successful prosecution,” the police spokesman said.

He rejected the allegation by Mohamud that police had engaged in racial profiling.

“Charges were laid on the evidence presented. We treat people as being equal before the law, without discrimination of any kind,” the spokesman said.

In June, other serious assault charges against Mohamud arising from a separate incident in Dandenong were also dropped.

She was charged last year with assault, intentionally causing injury, recklessly causing injury, assault with an instrument and theft over an alleged attack in December 2020.

However, all charges against Mohamud arising from the alleged incident in Dandenong were withdrawn by a prosecutor in the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on June 7.

Victoria Police is expected to be ordered to cover Mohamud’s legal costs in both cases.

A Victorian Greens spokeswoman also accused police of bungling the investigation.

“Charges like these are part of the reason why women, especially women of colour, are often too scared to come forward about crimes of this nature,” the spokeswoman said.

“Throughout this process we have supported her, and we will continue to support her in that work and as she heals from the trauma of this event.”

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