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| Southeast Asia |
| British-Born Muslim Denies Bomb Plots In Australia |
| 2002-11-20 |
| A British-born Muslim convert denies plotting to bomb Israeli diplomatic buildings in Australia. Australian citizen Jack Roche denied the charges when he appeared in court amid tight security in Perth. "No, no! Certainly not!" Roche's lawyer Robert Mazza says his client will plead not guilty to two charges of conspiracy to bomb diplomatic premises. Roche, 49, says he trained with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terror network in Afghanistan. But he denies planning bomb attacks on the Israeli Embassy in Canberra and the Israeli Consulate in Sydney. "He disavows violence," Mr Mazza said. "Just think of him as a hippy with a turban..." Roche was not required to enter a plea. He was remanded in custody until November 27 when he is due to make an application for bail. Prosecutor Martyn Plummer said Roche was charged with conspiring while in Malaysia, Pakistan and Afghanistan between February 15 and May 26, 2000, to damage, by fire or explosives, diplomatic property in Australia, and to harm diplomatic personnel. He would face a maximum sentence of 45 years' imprisonment if convicted. Being nothing but cannon fodder, he doesn't even have much to bargain with... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #2 Roche is french for "rock", as in head-of-stone... |
| Posted by: mojo 2002-11-20 13:27:42 |
| #1 Was there a spelling error? Isn't his name spelled "roach"? How come they don't use his Muslim name? Hey, look, another tourist who visited Afghanistan. Golly, think of the air miles! |
| Posted by: Chuck 2002-11-20 11:48:57 |