Alo-Bridget Namoa, convicted of plotting Sydney NYE terror attack, refused bail
The barrister of Jihadi bride Alo-Bridget Namoa has successfully applied to suppress her address for fear of someone attacking her. The request was made during a court hearing when a bid for her bail was made.
Parramatta
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Jihadi bride Alo Bridget Namoa — who was convicted of plotting a terrorist attack with her ex-husband in Sydney on New Year’s Eve 2015 — will remain behind bars after bail was refused following 12 alleged breaches of her strict terror control order.
The 23-year-old wore a face mask, gloves and hooded prison greens when she appeared at Parramatta Local Court via video link from Silverwater Correctional Centre on Tuesday after she was charged with breaching her strict terror controls between March and July.
Part of the 21-condition order banned anyone else from using her phone, which an Australian Federal Police superintendent has to sign off on.
Police allege she let someone else use her phone and got her husband to access WhatsApp.
She is also accused of using a phone other than the one the AFP authorised.
Namoa’s barrister Michael Finnane told the court his client suggested someone else use WhatsApp to source information and there was no proof she used it.
He also told the court there was an example of someone picking up the phone without her permission when her employment agency called because she had left the room and, on a separate occasion, her husband “joined in’’ a conversation in the background.
He said the evidence against his client was weak and data did not relate to criminal terrorist activity.
He said if the matter went to trial it would be delayed until next year and more evidence was needed around data that mentioned Halal meat, her imprisoned brother and sending a song via WhatsApp.
Namoa was also charged on Saturday after allegedly failed to report to Auburn police station on June 19.
Prosecutor Conor McCraith told the court breaching the orders was serious.
“They’re obtained to ensure terrorist attacks do not happen,’’ he said.
The conditions were in place when she was released from prison in December after being convicted of plotting to carry out a 2015 attack with the other half of the “Bonnie and Clyde” pair, her ex-husband Sameh Bayda.
Namoa and Bayda married in an Islamic ceremony when they were 18 before planning to attack non-Muslims on New Year’s Eve.
Namoa was sentenced to a maximum of three years and nine months but was eligible for parole after two years and 10 months.
The Federal Court granted an interim control order last December, which restricted Namoa’s movements.
Today, Magistrate Rodney Brender told the court he was not prepared to say the case was weak and refused bail.
But a suppression order on publishing Namoa’s address was granted after Mr Finnane cited fears over possible attacks on his client.
The matter will return to court on September 18.