Five men convicted on terrorism offences

In Sydney, five Muslim men have been found guilty of terrorism offences involving conspiring to plan a terrorist attack on Australia.

The guilty verdicts come FOUR years after they were arrested, following raids by police in November 2004.

There has been a very lengthy trial - 170 days of evidence over the course of the 10-month trial followed by 23 days of deliberations. There was also eight months of 'pre-trial' argument!

Four co-conspirators had pleaded guilty prior to the start of the trial - two have already been released from prison given the time they had served since the arrest of the men in November 2004.

Cost of trial and police/ASIO operation

The men were all provided with legal assistance (a barrister, junior and instructing solicitor each) throughout the trial through Legal Aid. It has been estimated the the combined cost of the case - for the defence and the prosecution by the crown - is about $9 million!

The operation by ASIO and the Australian federal police cost about $37.2 million!

That is the price of maintaining our security and for providing justice. Keeping our nation safe from attacks by terrorists is a priority - but it is costly!

Media Reports: 

Five men guilty on terrorism charges  - NEWS.com.au - ‎Oct 16, 2009.
"FIVE Sydney men have been found guilty of terrorism offences after one of the longest criminal trials in Australian history. Mohamed Ali Elomar, 44, ..."

Sydney jihadists guilty of terrorism plot  - ABC Online - ‎Oct 16, 2009‎.
"Five Sydney men who embraced violent jihad have been found guilty of conspiring to commit a terrorism act on Australian soil, after the longest trial in the ..." 

Sydney terror case legal costs hit a high at $9m - October 17, 2009 - The Australian.  
"THE terrorism trial of the five Sydney men was one of the longest, and almost certainly the most expensive, criminal trial in Australia's history.
While the Supreme Court jury sat through 170 days of evidence over the course of the 10-month trial, and deliberated over its verdicts for a further 23 days, judge Anthony Whealy presided over a further eight months of pre-trial argument dating back to March 2008. 
... It is understood the legal aid bill for the defence, combined with the cost of the crown case, came to about $9 million. The legal aid bill was footed by the commonwealth under a deal struck between the federal Attorney-General's office and NSW Legal Aid. ..." 

Sydney terror quintet facing life in jail for plotting murder on a massive scale - October 17, 2009 - The Australian. 
THE Sydney men found guilty yesterday of terrorism offences had been plotting murder on a massive scale, having stockpiled 30,000 rounds of ammunition, bomb-making equipment and explosive chemicals with the intention of exacting revenge on Australia for its military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan. .." 

Aussie jihad stopped in its tracks -The Daily Telegraph - October 17, 2009
"FIVE would-be jihadists found guilty of conspiring to plan a devastating terrorist attack in Sydney face the prospect of life behind bars - but two fellow plotters have already walked free from prison. Police yesterday revealed the $37.2 million cost of the operation, the landmark joint investigation between ASIO and Australian Federal Police that netted the terror nine in a series of co-ordinated dawn raids on November 8, 2005...."