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Australian Terror suspect left in cell in underwear
A MAN accused of being a member of a terrorist organisation was left in a cell in his underwear after a dispute with prison officers today, a court has been told.Abdulla Merhi, 20, of Fawkner is one of 10 Melbourne men charged with being a member of a terrorist organisation. Eight of the men have also been charged with financing a terrorist organisation. Rob Stary, representing Merhi and seven other defendants, told the Melbourne Magistrates' Court that there had been a dispute between his clients and prison guards this morning over what the prisoners should wear to court. Mr Stary said the accused had been in jail for six months and their civilian clothes were soiled and musty. They asked if they could attend in their prison garb but were refused permission. Mr Stary said that in the course of the dispute, Merhi was left in a cell in his underwear for up to an hour. "Obviously, there was a sense of degradation and humiliation on his part," he told the court. The dispute held up proceedings in court one for close to two hours, with only four of the accused wearing civilian clothes eventually attending. One of the four was the alleged leader of the group, Muslim preacher Abdul Nacer Benbrika, 46, of Dallas, who has also been charged with directing a terrorist organisation. Before Magistrate Paul Smith entered the court room, Benbrika flanked by security in the dock silenced the courtroom. "This life is very short," he said. "Everyone is going to die but the best of us." The end of his statement was indecipherable and was interrupted by the arrival of the magistrate. The case was adjourned for another committal mention on April 28 and booked in for a committal beginning in the County Court on June 14. Outside the court, Mr Stary said his clients had asked for their clothes to be cleaned but their request was refused. He said his clients had wanted to wear prison garb as a protest about their treatment in prison. "It's the only thing they can do to protest against their circumstances," he said. Posted by: Oztrailan 2006-03-31 |
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