Gang rapist Mohammed Skaf denied release

Notorious gang rapist Mohammed Skaf will remain behind bars for the rest of 2019 after his bid for release was denied.

Skaf, who was convicted alongside his brother Bilal over a series of rapes in Sydney in 2000, became eligible for parole in January 2018.

The State Parole Authority refused his release in February that year.

But Skaf applied for it to reconsider the decision under "manifest injustice" provisions, which allow offenders to seek parole without having to wait 12 months.

In a statement on Friday, a spokeswoman from the parole authority said the 36-year-old's application under the provisions was declined "given advice from the Serious Offenders Review Council that release to parole was not appropriate."

Skaf will be eligible for parole consideration in January 2020.