Second convicted terrorist jailed for breaching Control Order
A convicted terrorist offender has been sentenced to a maximum of two years and three months jail by the New South Wales District Court today (8 April 2022) for breaching a Federal Court of Australia Control Order.
The 26-year-old Sydney man pleaded guilty to the offence in December 2021 after he was charged by officers from the AFP High Risk Terrorist Offenders (HRTO) team in January 2021.
The Control Order, which was applied for by the AFP and granted by the Federal Court, outlines conditions imposed on the man when he was released from custody in January 2021. He had served 18 months’ jail for associating with a terrorist organisation.
Just over two weeks after his release from prison, the AFP HRTO team arrested and charged the man with contravening conditions of the Control Order.
The man had accessed related religious extremist material that was in contravention of his order. More information into the man’s initial arrest is located here.
The man is the second convicted terrorist offender to be convicted of breaching a Control Order, after a 24-year-old Sydney woman was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment in November 2021.
Since July 2020, the High Risk Terrorist Offenders team has charged eight people for breaching Control Orders, which is around 75 per-cent of those released on Control Orders.
Commander Counter Terrorism Sandra Booth said the AFP took the management of those on Control Orders and the safety of the community very seriously.
“The AFP uses Control Orders and other available legislative measures to ensure the ongoing safety of the Australian community,” Commander Booth said.
“The use of Control Orders is judicious and only considered when traditional criminal justice methods cannot mitigate the risk posed by the individual.
“This sentencing shows any violation of these orders can attract a jail term.”
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