A Sydney man has become the final person to be convicted of a terrorism offence as part of the multi-agency Operation Appleby terrorism investigation.
The man, 48, was yesterday (15 September 2022) found guilty by a jury in the Parramatta Supreme Court for the offence of directing the activities of a terrorist organisation, contrary to section 102.2 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
The man was charged with this offence on 11 November 2019 as part of the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team’s Operation Appleby, an investigation into offenders involved in the preparation for domestic terrorist acts, foreign incursions into Syria and Iraq, and the funding of terrorist organisations.
This man was one of 16 people charged and later convicted of terrorism offences during the eight-year span of this investigation.
It was alleged the man was the leader of a Sydney-based group planning to commit acts of terrorism in Australia in 2014. There is no current or impending threat to the community as a result of these activities.
The man remains in custody after he was convicted in July 2016 on seven counts of preparations for foreign incursions, which involved allegations of helping people travel to Syria to participate in or support the conflict in the region.
The man is scheduled to appear in the Parramatta Supreme Court on 31 October 2022 for a sentencing hearing relating to the latest conviction. He faces a maximum penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment.
NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team comprises members from the AFP, New South Wales Police Force, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the NSW Crime Commission.
