Jailed five years for Terror activities

Saleh Jamal

Aussie terrorist wanted over police shooting

February 24, 2005
From: AAP
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12355295-2,00.html


Jailed ... Australian Saleh Jamal was for five years on charges of possession of weapons and explosives / file
AN Australian national jailed in Lebanon for terrorist activities will be interviewed over a shooting attack on a Sydney police station upon his release, New South Wales Premier Bob Carr said today.

Saleh Jamal is wanted by NSW Police after fleeing Australia using a fake passport in March last year while on bail for alleged involvement in the 1998 shooting attack on Lakemba police station.
A military court in Beirut today sentenced Jamal, a Jordanian-born Australian, to five years jail on charges of possession of weapons and explosives, forging an Australian passport, forming a group and planning acts that endangered state security.

He will serve his time in a prison with hard labour.
The same court sentenced another Australian, Lebanese-born Hayssam Melhem, and another Australian resident to one year in jail.

The identity of the third Australian is yet to be confirmed.
Mr Carr said NSW Police would interview Jamal when he was released from prison.
"When he completes his jail sentence in Lebanon we will be waiting for him," he told reporters.
No formal extradition treaty exists between Lebanon and Australia, but Mr Carr said he had been assured Jamal would be returned.

"I've been advised that arrangements are in place now to restore him to Australia and the Australian justice system when he leaves Lebanon," Mr Carr said.
Australian Federal Police will also interview Jamal over alleged immigration offences.
A Department of Foreign Aaffair and Trade spokeswoman said the department had taken a close and active interest in Jamal's case.

"The Lebanese military court found Mr Jamal guilty of terror-related charges and sentenced him to five years imprisonment with hard labour," she said.
"We have undertaken consular visits to ensure his welfare (and) access to legal counsel."
Jamal fled Australia using a fake passport in March last year, while on bail for his alleged involvement in the 1998 shooting attack on the Lakemba police station in southwestern Sydney.

He was arrested in May on terrorism charges while trying to flee Lebanon, again using a false passport.
Jamal was found guilty of "creating an illegal association, together with two Lebanese men, in order to carry out activities harming state security", one source said.
Lebanese national Zuheir Hassan Issa was found innocent while Saadallah Khazaal was sentenced to five years in prison in absentia.

In 2003, a Beirut court sentenced two Australian brothers in absentia to 10 years in jail for terror-related offences.
Lebanon and Syria, which has broad influence over Lebanese security, are under pressure to prove they are co-operating in the US-led war on terror.