Ghost app: Clemency bid at centre of fake terror plot hatched behind bars, police say

Stunning new details have emerged detailing the police allegations against a Sydney father accused of using the Ghost app to organise a fake terrorism plot that he hoped would help secure him clemency on heroin smuggling charges.

A Sydney father accused of orchestrating a fake terrorism plot from behind bars allegedly planned to alert authorities to the would-be attack in exchange for clemency on heroin smuggling charges and citizenship for his family.

Police allege Guy Habkouk, once one of Australia’s most wanted men, used two contraband mobile phones loaded with the encrypted Ghost app to communicate with an associate, Abdul Wasim Kherkhah, about where to stage the fake incident and the resources needed to make the plot appear plausible.

According to court documents, the pair allegedly identified Sydney Harbour and the new Parramatta Police Station as intended targets and spoke about letting off a grenade in a suburban shopping centre to generate fear in the community.

They also allegedly discussed plans to spend $175,000 buying an RPG rocket launcher that Habkouk could potentially use as leverage in his plans to cut a clemency deal with NSW attorney general Michael Daley.

The extraordinary allegations were revealed in police documents tendered to the NSW Supreme Court during a bail application for 27-year-old mechanic Ahmad Malikzada, who police allege is a fellow Ghost user and a member of an alleged criminal drug dealing syndicate headed by Kherkhah.

Guy Habkouk, 35, pictured after landing on Australian soil following his extradition from Turkey in 2023. Picture: AFP

Malikzada is not accused of being involved in the terrorism plot and has not been charged as such.

The court heard Habkouk was extradited from Turkey to Australia in May last year, at which time he was hit with commercial drug supply charges and refused bail over his alleged involvement in importing a record-breaking 347kgs of heroin through Port Botany.

Police allege Habkouk began secret discussions about the terrorism plot with Kherkhah in March this year.

“I think the bomb and the rpg b enough,” Habkouk allegedly wrote on March 22.

“Then we need to look into a target of some kind. And do photos and maps and shit so it looks like homework has been done.”

Kherkhah allegedly responded “I got a few in mind already will look proper job like terriost [sic] attack haahahah.”

“Then I just say I heard this and that inside hear … 123 if u want more info I need it in writing then send my demands,” Habkouk allegedly wrote.

The court heard Habkouk allegedly revealed those demands would include his immediate release, citizenship for his family and “a clean slate and identity” because he feared what he was doing “can get me killed”.

“We’re gonna make history broski,” Habkouk allegedly wrote.

The heroin haul police allege Habkouk was involved in smuggling into Australia in 2020.Picture: AFP

The following month, Kherkhah allegedly sent Habkouk a picture of a large amount of cash which he claimed was for buying the RPG.

The court heard Kherkhah allegedly received pictures and a video of an RPG on the Ghost app on May 2, however it was not revealed in court documents whether he ever physically received the weapon.

Correctional officers seized one of Habkouk’s contraband phones on May 8 and the second on April 11.

Both were handed over to police, who uncovered the alleged terrorism plot plan after forensically examining the devices.

The court heard the second device contained Google searches of media articles about missing RPGs and “criminals” receiving immunity from prosecution by obtaining one and handing it over to authorities.

Habkouk was subsequently charged with conspiring to pervert the course of justice and possessing a dedicated encrypted device.

Meanwhile, the court heard Malikzada was among dozens of people arrested in September during sweeping AFP raids linked to the Ghost app takedown.

How the AFO say the Ghost app worked. Picture: Supplied

It is alleged he, Kherkhah and several others were involved in trafficking cocaine and ecstasy between Sydney and Inverell, with Malikzada accused of acting as a runner and delivery man for the syndicate.

Malikzada is also accused of conspiring to use icing sugar to make five kilograms of fake cocaine and sell them to an unsuspecting buyer for $800,000.

Defence barrister Greg James KC said the case against his client was far from a strong one, yet the complexity of the investigation and the volume of evidence to be served meant any trial would likely be at least 18 months away.

He proposed a series of stringent conditions to secure Malikzada’s release on bail including electronic ankle monitoring, however Justice Deborah Sweeney refused the application, finding Malikzada had not proven his ongoing detention was unjustified.

Kherkhah, who is facing a host of charges including multiple counts of drug trafficking and supply, conspiring to pervert the course of justice and directing the activities of a criminal organisation, also remains in custody without bail.

The cases for all three men and their co-accused will return to court later this month.