http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20649829-1702,00.html Terror suspect makes third bail bid By Maria O'Keefe October 26, 2006 THE youngest member of an alleged Melbourne terrorist group was a "very grave threat to society" and should not be released on bail, a court was told today. Abdullah Merhi, 21, and his 12 co-accused are alleged to have been in the early stages of planning a terrorist attack in Australia when they were arrested last November. Mr Merhi showed a willingness to engage in violent jihad in conversations intercepted by police, crown prosecutor Nick Robinson told Melbourne Magistrates Court. "Mr Merhi represents a very grave threat to society,'' Mr Robinson said. "Particularly in light of the sorts of statements he has made.'' Mr Merhi, of Fawkner, is making his third bail application. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of being a member of a terrorist group, funding a terrorist group and possessing a thing connected with a terrorist act. He is also accused of giving the alleged leader of the group, Abdul Nacer Benbrika, disks containing a bomb-making manual and was allegedly found in possession of materials supporting jihad and martyrdom. However, Mr Merhi's lawyer Mark Taft dismissed a conversation his client had with Benbrika about Islamic justification of terrorism in Australia as expressions of "foolish and youthful impatience'' that were not acted upon. "This conversation is not accompanied by any terrorist act on Mr Merhi's part,'' he said. "If Mr Merhi seriously contemplated such an act, as distinct from expressing foolish and youthful impatience, he had much time and opportunities to do so,'' he said. In arguing for his client to receive bail, Mr Taft presented a list of concerns. He told the court Mr Merhi was in maximum security remand and could be in custody for at least 20 months before his case went to trial. He said his client had been diagnosed as suffering moderate to severe depression since he was incarcerated. Mr Taft also said the married father of an infant son was willing to abide by strict bail conditions and his family could provide a substantial surety. Magistrate Paul Smith adjourned the hearing and will announce his decision tomorrow. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: osint@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
