Western Sydney couple linked with anti-Semitism graffiti delivered slap on wrist
A couple faced court on Friday charged with facilitating anti-Semitic graffiti attacks in Sydney’s east last year.
A western Sydney couple investigated over an explosives-filled caravan plot will soon walk free after prosecutors dropped a series of charges linked to a spate of anti-Semitic graffiti attacks in Sydney’s eastern suburbs late last year.
After the pair were initially taken into custody for their involvement in malicious damage to vehicles and properties in the eastern suburbs, it was deemed both “were unaware of the specific details” of the crimes.
Tammie Farrugia, 34, was given a 12-month community corrections order, while partner Scott Marshall, 36, received a 12-month jail sentence with a non-parole period of six months, meaning he could walk free in June.
The Director of Public Prosecutions dropped charges of participating in criminal group and contribute to criminal activity, while charges in relation to damaged property were limited to a burnt-out red Toyota Corolla found at the scene.
Representatives for the pair maintained neither Farrugia nor Marshall “demonstrated anti-Semitic views” and “were not part of any wider anti-Semitic conspiracy or activities”.
“Both have unfortunately been used to gather the fuel cans and move the vehicles, and they did that without any knowledge of what was to occur thereafter,” magistrate Susan McIntyre said.
When asked by the magistrate, the prosecution could not provide any detail about the amount of money offered to the couple, nor whether any payment was received.
In her sentencing statement, Ms McIntyre said it was clear “neither can help the investigators any further in identifying the identities of those who organised the crime”.
After delivering the pair a slap on the wrist, she said the “loving couple” should ensure “anything they do together moving forward should be lawful and appropriate”.
The December 11 vandalism attack they played a part in facilitating was the second such incident in Woollahra and came just days after the firebombing of Melbourne’s Adass synagogue.
The words “Kill Israiel” (sic) were scrawled on the wall of a home in the attack, which caused an estimated $20,000 in damages, while the stolen car the pair delivered to the culprits was set alight.
Farrugia made a post on her social media account on December 10 asking if anyone had jerry cans she could use.
The pair were previously investigated by police after a caravan laden with explosives was found in Dural with a list of addresses including that of the Great Jewish Synagogue.
Farrugia and Marshall were named on a search warrant after police were alerted to the incident; however, neither have been charged in relation to that matter.
Police later retracted claims of a terrorist “mass casualty threat”, instead saying it was a “criminal con job” designed to garner false leverage in separate negotiations between police and organised crime figures. The alleged mastermind of the attacks, Sayit “Aron” Akca, is still at large in Turkey.
“Put simply, the plan was the following: organise someone to buy a caravan, place it with explosives and written material of (an) anti-Semitic nature, leave it in a specific location and then once that happened, inform law enforcement about impending terror attacks against Jewish Australians,” AFP deputy commissioner Krissy Barrett said.
Similar to her post asking for jerry cans, Farrugia took to social media in December last year looking for a caravan to purchase.
Farrugia was originally arrested under Strike Force Pearl, a taskforce set up in December to respond to the series of anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney’s east.
NSW police doubled its resources in January, allocating an additional 40 investigators.
The couple, who appeared via video link at Downing Centre on Friday afternoon, were given a reduction on their sentences for pleading guilty and may be reunited in less than a month.
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