 A Sydney magistrate has granted an application by the Commonwealth Government to hear some evidence against an alleged terrorism suspect in a closed court. Sydney's Central Local Court is holding a committal hearing for 34-year-old Faheem Khalid Lodhi, who is charged with nine terrorism related offences. He is alleged to have planned attacks on the electricity grid and some Sydney defence sites, along with French terrorism suspect Willie Brigitte. The Commonwealth Government applied to have some of the expected evidence in the case heard in a closed court, arguing that if it was made public it would be contrary to national security. After almost two days of argument, Magistrate Michael Price has granted the application. He says the closed court would not damage Lodhi's defence, but would protect the wider community. |