Posted on 05/05/2006 8:19:18 PM PDT by FairOpinion
A MILITARY-scale operation, funded by taxpayers, has begun to allow a Melbourne terror suspect to visit his dying brother interstate.
Izzydeen Atik, 25, will make a mercy dash to Sydney on an $8000 chartered jet to farewell older brother Merhy, who is stricken with liver disease.
Melbourne Magistrates' Court heard Mr Atik will be in the custody of up to 10 federal agents and will be under guard at secret locations in Melbourne and Sydney for his flights.
More than 20 officers are expected to guard Sydney's Westmead Hospital, where the final goodbyes will probably take place today.
Estimates of the trip's costs ranged in the tens of thousands of dollars.
The court heard a chartered plane was necessary because commercial airlines would not take Mr Atik.
Corrections Victoria and Victoria Police also refused to be involved in the transfer operation.
Prosecutor John Champion, SC, said federal police had grave concerns about the trip's hefty price tag and maintaining safety.
"It is a very expensive exercise, which ultimately is to be paid for by Australian taxpayers," he said.
Det-Insp Steve Clark said police were extremely uncomfortable with the prospect of supervising Mr Atik, and worried about his NSW associates.
"There is a significant imposition on police resources," he said.
"We would be concerned, particularly with the publicity surrounding the matter, of people knowing he might be returned to NSW, and they might want to assist him in escaping."
Defence lawyer Theo Kassimatis said the bail application was made unapologetically on compassionate grounds.
He said Mr Atik, a paranoid schizophrenic, should be allowed to grieve with his family.
Magistrate Paul Smith said he had to have some regard to the costs but also had to behave humanely towards Mr Atik.
"If we live, as I hope we do, in a civilised and decent community, we should be able to make arrangements where someone in Mr Atik's position should be able to visit a close relative to say goodbye," he said.
Mr Smith bailed Mr Atik for 48 hours, expiring tomorrow at 5pm. Mr Atik can be returned to custody at any time before that.
The court heard travel and hospital arrangements, as well as how much contact Mr Atik had with relatives, would be at police discretion.
Mr Atik, of Williamstown, is accused of acting as a travel agent for an alleged terror cell planning violent jihad in Australia.
It is alleged he used fraudulently obtained credit-card numbers to buy airline tickets in false names for cell members and contributed funds to the cell.
Mr Atik was arrested in November as part of a swoop on an alleged terror organisation in Melbourne and Sydney.
He and 12 other Melbourne men face charges including providing membership, support and funds to a terrorist group.
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So why are they doing anything for him? He could have stayed free to visit his brother, if he hadn't decided to participate in the terrorist group.
Any chance they might fly over one of them shark-infested reefs and this jackoff might 'fall out of the aircraft'?
"Izzydeen"
Is his brother "Auldeen"?
Perhaps because he hasn't been convicted of any crimes yet. At this point in time, he simply stands accused.
Well, considering what he's accused of, might it not have been cheaper to let him book his own travel?
johndeen
howarddeen
Affydean?
"Perhaps because he hasn't been convicted of any crimes yet. At this point in time, he simply stands accused."
==
That paradigm went out with the attack on 9-11.
You can't treat terrorists "innocent until proven guilty" because by that time thousands of innocents will be dead too.
"If we live, as I hope we do, in a civilised and decent community, we should be able to make arrangements where someone in Mr Atik's position should be able to visit a close relative to say goodbye," he said.<
After about 5 seconds reflection, I decided these two names, at a minimum, should start refreshing their resumes.
Definitely they should be doing something else.
The magistrate for creating an absurd definition of "compassion" with other people's money. If an employee of mine did that, he's be out on his butt instantly...
As for the 'unapologetic' attorney, what's wrong? he couldn't find his personal checkbook?
Well, toss him to the lions. And if there are no lions, saltwater crocodiles will do.
Could be "Izzydedyet?"
Insane policy.
That doesn't apply to the case at hand, since the "suspect" is a) in custody, and b) no longer "hidden."
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