The Somali refugee, Masoud Ali Sheikh, was bashed on Manus Island on 8 October. He sustained severe head injuries. Masoud is an epileptic and since the bashing has experienced numerous seizures. On 31 October he had three seizures in a period of six hours. Although he is receiving medicine for his epilepsy, it is not effective. He has spent three years on Manus Island and has never received treatment from a neurosurgeon in PNG. Specialised epilepsy testing equipment, EEG and EMG machines, are not available in PNG and his condition has not been appropriately treated.

The effect of the trauma to his head from the bashing on Manus has compounded the seriousness of his epileptic seizures. Masoud reports disorientation and amnesia after the seizures and now has constant sensitivity to light and severe pain in his head. He urgently needs to be brought to Australia for medical treatment.