Terror suspect Alo-Bridget Namoa joins husband behind bars to face terrorism charges

DESPITE prosecutors insisting Alo-Bridget Namoa, 18, was “up to her eyeballs” in a terror plan launched by her husband, a magistrate had previously granted her bail. She was re-arrested yesterday and is behind bars.

Fairfeild Court

• YESTERDAY’S DEVELOPMENTS: NAMOA ARRESTED

A TEENAGE bride suspected of plotting with her husband to commit a terrorist attack in Sydney was released into the community earlier this month because the state’s strict new bail laws are not yet able to be implemented.

Alo-Bridget Namoa, 18, was re-arrested yesterday and remained in custody last night.

But two weeks ago, on February 11, she was granted bail at Central Local Court by magistrate Les Mabbutt, despite his court hearing evidence of her boasting about becoming the “Islamic Bonnie and Clyde”, and being found with a knife and shahada flag.

Alo-Bridget Namoa arrives at Fairfield police station yesterday / Picture: Richard Dobson

At the time the police prosecutor told the court: “There is a concern she is a supporter of ISIS. The accused was up to her eyeballs in what her husband was up to.”

NSW Police had strongly opposed her being freed on bail, but legal sources said last night Mr Mabbutt had no choice because the new bail laws were not available to him.

The strict new bail amendments, introduced in response to the Lindt Cafe siege review, which create a presumption against bail for people with links to terror, are still not in operation despite them being approved in November.

The government said the delay was due to ensuring “systems and forms are updated, and appropriate training and resources are in place”.

Namoa was re-arrested yesterday and charged with recklessly possessing an item connected to a terrorist act and recklessly collecting documents connected to a terrorist act.

NSW Police deputy commissioner Cath Burn said Namoa was found with a knife.

Namoa did not appear from her cell at Fairfield Local Court today when her matter was heard.

Her defence lawyer made no application for bail and bail was refused by the Magistrate.

She is scheduled to appear at Central Local Court on March 2.

Alo-Bridget Namoa before her conversion to Islam / Supplied

Her husband Sameh Bayda was earlier charged with terror offences relating to the alleged attack plan and remains in Goulburn prison on remand.

The Daily Telegraph understands the charges levelled at Namoa surround an alleged plot to stab a random member of the public with her 18-year-old husband and that the plan was “advanced”.

She was earlier charged by the joint counter-terrorism taskforce with refusing to answer 31 questions before the NSW Crime Commission.

Among the questions police accuse Namoa of ignoring are: “Why were you and your husband downloading ISIS propaganda material?” and “What do you mean by ‘I want to do an Islamic Bonnie and Clyde on the kaffir’?”

Alo-Bridget Namoa’s husband Sameh Bayda.

Terror suspect Alo-Bridget Namoa.

Under the new bail laws magistrates and judges will be required to take into account “whether the accused person has made statements or carried out activities advocating support for terrorist acts or ­violent extremism” or “whether the accused person has any associations or affiliation with any persons or groups advocating support for terrorist acts or violent extremism”.

Last night, government legal sources said the new bail legislation came into effect on November 5 but the amendments were yet to become law.

A spokesman from the Chief Magistrate’s office said: “In NSW, there is an appeals process under which bail decisions can be reviewed.”

Mr Mabbutt also released accused criminal Darren Rispen on bail in October 2014.

Rispen immediately broke his bail conditions and went on the run, and he is still on the NSW Police most wanted list.

Alo-Bridget Namoa covered by a blanket leaving Silverwater Jail.

Last night Ms Burn refused to comment on the bail decision that freed Namoa two weeks ago, saying: “The fact she was released on bail is not a matter I’m going to talk about … she will be put back before the courts and we’ll see what happens.”

Ms Namoa’s lawyer Sophie Toomey said yesterday that her client would fight the allegations.

“Miss Namoa is not applying for bail at this stage,” she said last night.

QUESTIONS TOO HARD TO ANSWER

Questions from the Crime Commission t0 Alo-Bridget Namoa, February 5, 2016 FROM 9:30am to 1:04pm

î Why were you and your husband downloading ISIS propaganda material?

î Did your husband discuss places to conduct an attack?

î Is Sameh Bayda a supporter of ISIS?

î Has your husband ever told you that he wanted to kill people?

î Where did you get the knife that was located in your handbag?

î Where did you get the flag thago out and find a place where people congregate?

î Have you discussed with your husband about being separated from each other in the future?

î What did you mean I want something left for me?

What did you mean by the hereafter or after world?

î What were you referring to when saying you will get your certificate?

î Your husband was talking about dying there wasn’t he?

î Do you know why your husband was contemplating death?

î Was he planning to die?

î Did yo mean you were going to get pregnant and he was going to die?

î What does all that mean?

î Why was he going to leave the dunya?

î Doesn’t that mean he’s going to die?

î Was he planning to martyr himself?

î What do you mean by I want to do an Islamic Bonnie and Clyde on the kaffir?
î Were you prepared to sacrifice your life alongside your husband?

î Did you write that note?

î Were you referring to the couple in San Bernardino?

î When you referred to Bonnie and Clyde were you planning a terrorist act with your husband?

î Do you know why has asked you to delete the message the messages from your mobile phone?
î Is it because those messages indicated he was going to do a terrorist act?

î Is it because your husband intended to die in martyrdom?

î Why did your download it?
î Who are your husband’s friends?

Terror suspect Alo-Bridget Namoa / Supplied