Tinnie terrorist renounces ‘evil’ wrongs in prison letter

The head of the “tinnie terrorists” group who attempted to sail a fishing boat overseas to spread Islamic State’s hateful views has reportedly trimmed his beard and renounced his radical beliefs.

A hate preacher who led a plot to sail a boat to join a terrorist group overseas has renounced his radical Islamic beliefs and admitted it is “terrible” knowing he influenced others to “dedicate themselves to tyrannical death cults”.

Robert “Musa” Cerantonio is serving a seven year jail term for plotting to sail a 7m fishing boat from far North Queensland to the Philippines to help overthrow its government.

Cerantonio was the leader of six men — dubbed the “tinnie terrorists” — convicted over the infamous plan and rose to infamy as an online hate preacher who spread Islamic State’s vile views.

But the Sunday Herald Sun can reveal Cerantonio, 36, has had a dramatic change of heart while serving time behind bars at Port Phillip Prison.

Robert “Musa” Cerantonio was the leader of six men dubbed the “tinnie terrorists”.

In a letter sent to a friend, the convicted jihadi says he has changed his mind about violent extremism after “finding myself with a large amount of spare time … I was able to dedicate myself to a lot of reading and research”.

In the four page letter, dated June 9, 2021, Cerantonio says he underwent a “change in “religious and ideological belief since mid-2019”.

He was initially reluctant to share news of his change of heart for fear he would be targeted by Islamic extremists who are in prison with him.

It is understood he has dramatically changed his appearance in jail, trimming his beard and losing weight.

Robert “Musa” Cerantonio being escorted by police in Manila, Philippines.

“I know now undoubtedly that I was in the wrong, and the evil which has come from such extremist ideology must be confronted, and I hope that my experiences may be of help in drawing others away from the same mistakes,” Cerantonio said.

“I also concede that being as influential as I was, I also have something of a duty to clean up the mess to which I contributed.

“Seeing individuals dedicate themselves to tyrannical death cults led by suicidal maniacs is bad enough, knowing I have contributed to their choices is terrible.

“I hope that my renunciation of Islam and jihadist extremism may be a cause for others to question their views and to sincerely look into viewpoints which may show their own beliefs to be incorrect.”

Murat Kaya was jailed for three years and eight months for his part in the plot.

Between 2015 and 2016, a group of jihadis, led by Cerantonio, planned their trip to the Philippines, stockpiling weapons and clothing from outdoor stores, including Kathmandu, BCF and Ray’s Outdoors.

They had a portable solar power charging system, sleeping bags and sleeping mats, first-aid kits and travel guides in preparation for the voyage.

Between May 6 and 10, 2016, they travelled together in a Hyundai Terracan SUV across Australia.

They set off from Bendigo towing a Haines Hunter boat and travelled to the Cape York Peninsula north of Cairns, where they were arrested by police who had been tracking their every move.

The group planned to sail a 7m fishing boat from far North Queensland to the Philippines to help overthrow its government.

They planned the voyage for more than six months, and expected their partners and children to join them in the Philippines.

If they made it, Cerantonio, who lived in the Philippines between 2013 and 2014, was the only member of the group expected to engage in direct conflict.

The rest of the group looked to him for “spiritual guidance”.

He lectured and gave sermons to the group and published writings and translated speeches online.

He had been advocating for the establishment of an Islamic State in the Philippines since 2014 writing: “Allah commands us as believers to fight those who have fought us and driven us out from our lands that we ruled over.

“This means that we as Muslims MUST fight the Philippine government as they are the ones who have taken control of our lands from us and instituted un-Islamic laws upon us.”

Murat Kaya was also jailed for three years and eight months for his part in the plot, while his younger brother Kadir, Paul Dacre and Antonio Granata were each sentenced to four years with a three-year non-parole period.

Shayden Thorne was freed last year after spending less than four years behind bars for his part in the plot.

In his letter from prison, Cerantonio said he has regularly met with Anglican, Catholic and Jewish spiritual leaders in prison, who had “been amazingly helpful in helping me to gain a better look at how religion devoid of extremism can be a force for good”.

“I was not initially eager to share the news of it for a number of reasons,” he wrote.

“Having had two years to ponder over this new reality I have decided it to be prudent and befitting to share it more openly, partly because of benefit which may come from it in warning others who adhere to my previous beliefs, but mostly because I do not feel comfortable hiding such changes and having others believe that I have not changed.”

Cerantonio flags in the letter that his change of heart could cause friction with his former jihadists.

“Whilst this may surprise or upset some, I am dedicated to following facts and this is where the facts have led me,” he wrote.

Cerantonio had a recent application for parole rejected. He is expected to apply for parole again next year. His sentence will expire on May 9, 2023.