Hearing over alleged Vic date site rapes

An Egyptian national moved to Melbourne to study before allegedly raping six women he met on social networking and dating websites.

All of Adel Nafady's alleged victims were born overseas and all but one will need an interpreter when they give evidence at his committal hearing this week.

A seventh woman managed to break free as Nafady allegedly tried to force her up to his Windsor apartment, prosecutor Lesley Taylor, SC, told the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday.

Nafady, 28, allegedly began using sites such as OkCupid, Plenty Of Fish and MeetMe when he arrived on a student visa in February last year.

He allegedly contacted 72 women online, from the end of February to May.

Nafady is accused of raping six in his apartment between March 30 and May 21, the court heard.

Some were in Australia on working holiday or student visas, and others were permanent residents, Ms Taylor said.

She said Nafady made initial contact with the women online, before phone numbers were exchanged and meetings arranged.

Nafady faces 44 charges, including rape, assault and unlawful imprisonment, court documents show.

He is also accused of stealing money from some of his alleged victims, who were aged between 19 and 36 at the time.

Nafady is in custody in immigration detention and appeared in court flanked by guards.

He was supported in court by his father, who flew from Egypt for his son's hearing.

Nafady was born in Egypt and moved to Melbourne to study a masters of business administration, the court heard.

The hearing continues.