A New South Wales University student accused of plotting to assassinate Australian politicians has been released on bail, after an expert found the sole piece of evidence couldn’t be connected to him.
Mohamed Kamer Nizamdeen, 25, was arrested in August after a colleague found a notebook allegedly containing details of plans to kill former Austrlaian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his former Deputy Julie Bishop.
Nizamdeen has spent four weeks in jail facing a terror charge - his family and supporters have maintained he is innocent.
“The prosecution has become aware that an expert handwriting examiner found an inconclusive result on the relevant entries contained in the notebook,” prosecutor Christina Choi told the Central Local Court in Sydney.
“Without a conclusive expert opinion suggesting the defendant was the relevant author, evidence for the charge has been significantly weakened. The alleged list of targets also included the former Speaker Bronwyn Bishop, the Sydney Opera House, major train stations and police stations across the Harbour City.
Nizamdeen’s lawyer said police had conducted eight hours of interviews with the student which also did not uncover anything against the suspect.
“Let’s be clear, Mr Nizamdeen today was granted bail because the case against him is extremely weak, almost non-existent,” his lawyer Moustafa Kheir said.
Kheir said his client wanted to “pass on some appreciation” for the support he’s been receiving.
“He especially wanted to pass on a thank you to his colleagues at the University of New South Wales.”
Detectives allege the Sri Lankan national was acting on his own, and despite police telling a media conference he appeared to be an Islamic State affiliate, they had not charged him with being a member of a terrorist organisation.- ABC