B
BB-Leo
Guest
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24238141-1242,00.html
Alleged jihad writer 'was a journalist'
By Margaret Scheikowski
August 25, 2008
POLICE did not check information that a man, accused of producing a book promoting jihad terrorist acts, was a journalist, a Sydney jury has heard.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) case officer Dale Redfern today said he knew of intercepted emails referring to Belal Saadallah Khazaal as being a journalist.
But he told the New South Wales Supreme Court jury the AFP did not conduct any investigation to determine whether this was true.
Mr Khazaal's barrister, George Thomas, then tendered a membership card, in Mr Khazaal's name, for the NSW branch of the Australian Journalists Association, valid until December 31, 2004.
Mr Khazaal, of Lakemba in Sydney's south-west, has pleaded not gu
ilty to knowingly making, in September 2003, a document connected with assistance in a terrorist act.
He has also denied attempting to incite the commission of a terrorist act.
The book is titled: Provisions on the rules of jihad - short judicial rulings and organisational instructions for fighters and mujahideen against infidels.
Mr Khazaal is said to have caused the book, written in Arabic, to be posted on a website, www.almagdese.com, in 2003.
Mr Redfern said Mr Khazaal was interviewed on 10 occasions from April 1 to April 23, 2004, by ASIO officers in the presence of AFP officers.
His house was searched on May 6, 2004, and he was arrested the next month, on June 2.
Mr Redfern agreed police took a hard copy of the Provisions book from Mr Khazaal's premises.
He told Mr Thomas it was a "possibility" the document was the same book provided to Mr Khazaal by ASIO during his April interviews.
Mr Redfern was present during the search and agreed M
r Khazaal had an extensive library of books, videos and audio tapes - which he said certainly numbered in the hundreds and possibly in the thousands.
The room also contained computer equipment, a desk, photocopier and other items, while books and similar materials also were present in other rooms.
Mr Redfern said on the face of it, most of the material appeared to be Islamic.
He agreed that during the April 2004 interviews, officers made statements to Mr Khazaal concerning the "inappropriate nature" of the book.
He further agreed Mr Khazaal took steps to remove the book from the almagdese website, three days after the search, and weeks before his arrest.
Mr Redfern said Mr Khazaal was eventually granted bail after his arrest and has remained on bail since that time, living at his home address.
The trial is continuing before Justice Megan Latham.
Alleged jihad writer 'was a journalist'
By Margaret Scheikowski
August 25, 2008
POLICE did not check information that a man, accused of producing a book promoting jihad terrorist acts, was a journalist, a Sydney jury has heard.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) case officer Dale Redfern today said he knew of intercepted emails referring to Belal Saadallah Khazaal as being a journalist.
But he told the New South Wales Supreme Court jury the AFP did not conduct any investigation to determine whether this was true.
Mr Khazaal's barrister, George Thomas, then tendered a membership card, in Mr Khazaal's name, for the NSW branch of the Australian Journalists Association, valid until December 31, 2004.
Mr Khazaal, of Lakemba in Sydney's south-west, has pleaded not gu
ilty to knowingly making, in September 2003, a document connected with assistance in a terrorist act.
He has also denied attempting to incite the commission of a terrorist act.
The book is titled: Provisions on the rules of jihad - short judicial rulings and organisational instructions for fighters and mujahideen against infidels.
Mr Khazaal is said to have caused the book, written in Arabic, to be posted on a website, www.almagdese.com, in 2003.
Mr Redfern said Mr Khazaal was interviewed on 10 occasions from April 1 to April 23, 2004, by ASIO officers in the presence of AFP officers.
His house was searched on May 6, 2004, and he was arrested the next month, on June 2.
Mr Redfern agreed police took a hard copy of the Provisions book from Mr Khazaal's premises.
He told Mr Thomas it was a "possibility" the document was the same book provided to Mr Khazaal by ASIO during his April interviews.
Mr Redfern was present during the search and agreed M
r Khazaal had an extensive library of books, videos and audio tapes - which he said certainly numbered in the hundreds and possibly in the thousands.
The room also contained computer equipment, a desk, photocopier and other items, while books and similar materials also were present in other rooms.
Mr Redfern said on the face of it, most of the material appeared to be Islamic.
He agreed that during the April 2004 interviews, officers made statements to Mr Khazaal concerning the "inappropriate nature" of the book.
He further agreed Mr Khazaal took steps to remove the book from the almagdese website, three days after the search, and weeks before his arrest.
Mr Redfern said Mr Khazaal was eventually granted bail after his arrest and has remained on bail since that time, living at his home address.
The trial is continuing before Justice Megan Latham.