A Sri Lankan Tamil refugee accused of sexually assaulting and robbing a disabled woman on a Sydney train will spend Christmas behind bars.
Rasakumar Kanakaradnam allegedly got on the train at Mulgrave and sat next to the woman, who has Down syndrome, before sexually assaulting her.
It is further alleged that the woman moved to another carriage but he followed her and stole items from her handbag before indecently assaulting her.
The 19-year-old victim was travelling by herself from Richmond to Blacktown in Sydney's west on the morning of November 1.
Kanakaradnam, 34, didn't come out of the holding cell when his matter was mentioned at Penrith Local Court on Friday.
His lawyer didn't apply for bail and it was formally refused.
The accused will make his next court appearance at Parramatta Local Court on January 15.
Police arrested the Toongabbie man in Richmond on Wednesday and charged him with aggravated sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault and aggravated robbery.
The court heard he does not understand English and requires a Tamil interpreter in court.
A spokesman for Immigration Minister Scott Morrison confirmed on Thursday that Kanakaradnam arrived in Australia by boat and was given a permanent protection visa by the previous government, which is granted to those deemed to be refugees.
"The department is aware of the case and will take whatever action that may be required at the conclusion of the court case," the spokesman said in a statement.
Jana Sribalan, a Tamil community organiser who lives with Kanakaradnam, told reporters outside court on Thursday that she believed he was innocent.
AAP