Adam Atwani: Punchbowl High School dux charged with supporting ISIS
A 22-year-old former dux of Punchbowl Boys High is set to face trial over allegations he helped ISIS to make its notorious propaganda videos by sending software to Syria.
The Express
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The once dux of Punchbowl Boys High School who allegedly supported ISIS by way of his brother in Syria has been granted bail after 10 months behind bars in Queensland.
Adam Atwani, 28, who lives in Queensland, had been extradited earlier this month to NSW while awaiting trial.
The police case is that a 22-year-old Atwani sent video-editing software to his brother Samir in Syria in 2014, knowing full well he was working and making propaganda for the Islamic State.
He transferred the software to his brother via Google Drive from his then Punchbowl home.
Samir is now believed to be deceased.
The messy legal processing saw him bailed in Queensland before being rearrested and extradited to NSW.
Atwani will need to inform authorities where he will spend the night and by what means he will get to Brisbane – by rental car or plane – after he is released from custody in NSW on Tuesday afternoon.
The court heard Atwani received a Bachelor of Engineering and Commerce from the University of Sydney before he later moved to Queensland, along with his family.
In granting bail, Magistrate Clare Farnan noted Atwani’s intelligence, his strong family and community ties in Queensland, his clean criminal record and his good behaviour while on bail for seven weeks in Queensland earlier this year.
Although Magistrate Farnan said she cannot account for his beliefs in 2014, “there’s nothing in the material before me to indicate he would continue to hold those views at this point in time”.
She also expressed the hefty delays in the process as a result of the trial being moved to NSW, as well as interruptions from COVID-19.
Magistrate Farnan conceded that it was unusual for a person not to be able to face a jury in the place where they were charged.
Atwani is expected to fight the charge of attempting to provide support to a terrorist organisation and a trial is now likely to take place in early to mid-2021 rather than late 2020.
As a requirement of his bail, Atwani will need to report daily to Logan Central Police Station in Queensland, live with his family in Woodridge, and abide by a curfew of 8pm to 6am.
In July 2017, Atwani was interviewed by police about his brother’s activities in Syria and his association with ISIS.
The same day police executed a search warrant at Atwani’s Brisbane home where they found electronic devices related to the charges.
At the time, Atwani was working for Queensland Police and was made to show cause as to why he should not be discharged after he did not disclose his family connection to the terror group.
Atwani was not charged until May 2019.
During that two year period, he was in regular contact with the Australian Federal Police who were interested in the whereabouts and activities of his brother.
The court heard that if Atwani is convicted, full-time imprisonment would be the only option.
His matter will next be heard at Downing Centre Local Court for charge certification on July 7.
Atwani will not be required to appear.