Accused IS terrorist Neil Prakash to learn next year if case will go to trial
Neil Prakash, who is accused of leading a global effort to recruit for Islamic State, refused to show his face at court.
Alleged terrorist Neil Prakash, who has been accused of leading a global effort to recruit for jihadist group Islamic State, is set to learn in May next year if his case will go to trial.
The news came as Prakash refused to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates court for a fourth time on Wednesday afternoon.
During a brief hearing, a police officer appeared via video link to tell the court: “[Mr Prakash] is refusing to attend, he states he does not attend court.”
Prakash, 31, was extradited from Turkey to Darwin in December last year. He has been charged by the AFP Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team with six terrorism-related offences following his time with IS.
The charges include being a member of a terrorist organisation, advocating terrorism and engaging in a hostile activity in a foreign country.
Dates were set for Prakash’s contested committal hearing – which will determine if there is evidence for a trial – and is due to be heard for five days from May 13 next year.
Mr Prakash’s lawyer, Isabelle Skaburskis, told the court his defence would attempt to ensure they would be sufficiently funded ahead of the hearings.
Witnesses would be cross-examined at the hearing, including Middle East Institute senior fellow Charles Lister.
Born and raised in Melbourne, with a Fijian father and Cambodian mother, it has been reported that Prakash has refused to appear before the Magistrates Court three times in the last 12 months.
His citizenship was revoked in 2018 by former Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton, but it was reinstated shortly after as a result of a High Court finding that the laws used to strip him of his citizenship were unconstitutional.
Mr Prakash first travelled to Syria in 2013, and was thought to have been killed in the Iraqi city of Mosul in 2016.
A warrant for his arrest was issued in 2016.
Should he be convicted, the charges could see Prakash jailed for life. He will next appear before the court for a special mention on February 5.
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