A Somalian Muslim man accused of joining ISIS and becoming one of the terror group’s top propagandists has been granted bail in Melbourne so he can get taxpayer-funded NDIS support.
Mohamed Bakit, 65, was arrested in Carlton last month and charged with membership of a terrorist organisation, using a carriage service to menace harass and cause offence by transmitting violent extremist material, and possessing or controlling violent extremist material.
Alleged ISIS member, 65, arrested in Melbourne accused of being one of the main distributors of the terror group’s propaganda, including instructional material on how to carry out attacks.
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He made a bail application last week, and appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday by videolink where Deputy Chief Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge released him on strict conditions, The Australian reported.
Mr Lethbridge said that while Bakit’s alleged offences had potential to cause “great harm” to the community, he was in poor health and depended on 24-hour NDIS-funded support due to a 2023 stroke that left him disabled, and at risk of choking and falling over.
“Considering all those factors, but in particular, the applicant’s age, parlous health, lack of prior convictions, [and] the historic nature of the allegations … the court finds that in combination, these circumstances are unusual or out of the ordinary, justifying a grant of bail,” the magistrate told the court.
He also said that Bakit faced up to 18 months or longer on remand, was at risk of “adverse health” outcomes while behind bars, adding “[prison] simply cannot provide the same levels of support or care without hospitalisation”, ABC News reported.
Bakit’s bail conditions include living at his home in Carlton, reporting to police once a week, surrendering his travel documents, not leaving Victoria, not using encrypted apps, using only a nominated mobile phone, and not accessing extremist material.
He will face court again in March.
Police allege Bakit was the most active participant in an ISIS chat group where he was “influential” and shared almost 10,000 files, including propaganda, footage of beheadings and suicide bombings, and material glorifying the terrorist organisation.
Detective Leading Senior Constable Katharine Dillon told the court at the previous hearing that Bakit allegedly showed “strong support for Islamic State” and that the “distribution of these materials shows active participation in the propagation of Islamic State”.
But Bakit’s defence lawyer argued that if none of the members of the chat group found the alleged material offensive, then no crime had been committed.
“The intention of the [legislation] is to stop the material from being distributed to people who don’t want to receive it,” Mr McGrath said.
Header image: Left, right, Bakit being arrested (AFP).
