A court has been told Osama bin Laden asked a Melbourne man to become a "sleeper" in Australia before undertaking activities for the Al Qaeda network. A bail application has begun for Joseph Terrance Thomas, 31, of Werribee, who is charged with receiving funds from and supporting the Al Qaeda terrorism network, as well as possessing a false passport. A prosecutor has told the Melbourne Magistrates Court that Thomas trained at Al Qaeda's Al Farouk camp in Afghanistan in 2001, where he saw bin Laden. The court was told he took part in terrorism discussions, including a plan to bring down a jet carrying the Pakistani President. The prosecutor said Thomas was asked by bin Laden, through an associate, to return to Australia to do work for Al Qaeda including looking at military operations.
It was also told Al Qaeda gave Thomas $US3,500 and a Qantas ticket to return home. He was instructed to maintain a normal lifestyle before contacting the terrorist network. But the court heard Thomas refused to pledge allegiance to Al Qaeda, especially after talk about attacking Australia, and that he had done nothing wrong in the 18 months he had been home. The bail hearing continues. |