Major twist for man accused of Sydney airport bomb threat

Video has been played in court of the moment a man allegedly threatened to blow up a Malaysian airlines flight and claimed his bag ‘would explode’.

Footage played in court filmed by a passenger has revealed the moment a Canberra man sparked chaos on-board an international flight when he allegedly threatened he had a bomb.

Muhammad Ali Arif, 45, was dramatically arrested at Sydney airport in August after he allegedly ranted at airline crew and forced the pilot to make a mid-air U-turn while en route to Kuala Lumpur.

He was arrested on-board Malaysian Airlines flight 122, after the plane sat on the tarmac at Sydney international airport for several hours.

Officers allege Mr Arif claimed he had explosives on-board the flight and charged him with making a false statement about a threat to damage an aircraft and not complying with a cabin crew’s safety instruction.

On Thursday Mr Arif appeared before the Supreme Court in Sydney via audiovisual link, after the Local Court rejected an application for bail on September 20.

Muhammad Arif is alleged to have threatened that he had a bomb on a flight. Picture: Muhammad Zubair

Crown Prosecutor Matt Clifford-O’Sullivan submitted video evidence of the incident in his argument that Mr Arif was not fit for release.

“The video gives you an impression of the impact (the threat) had on others and his behaviour,” he said.

“Yes it would have been quite terrifying for the those around him and the staff, it is an indication of the seriousness of the offence,” Justice Peter Hamill replied.

The court watched the clip of Mr Arif asking people on-board the plane to “move back” and “get lost” before he started to yell “if you love Allah don’t touch my bag”.

Mr Arif, dressed in prison greens, looked downcast and shook his head as the video continued.

“Don’t touch my bag it might explode,” Mr Arif said in the video.

“You don’t know what I have in here so move back.

Mr Arif’s lawyer Oussama Elfawal leaving Downing centre Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Adam Yip

“Say it, say it, are you are slave of Allah? Say it” he asked the passengers on-board.

The prosecutor also argued Mr Arif could not claim full defence on mental illness grounds because he demonstrated self-awareness of the incident when he later told passengers, after the flight was turned back to Sydney, that it “was a hoax and he might go to jail for what he’s done”.

“The central issue here is the safety of the community and at the moment the (evidence) may not alleviate or mitigate the risks of some similar episode occurring in the future,” the prosecutor said.

“The assessment of his current mental state is not at where the court could be satisfied he has been treated and ready for release into the community.”

However Mr Arif’s solicitor Mr Elfawal said his client clearly struggled with serious mental health conditions and was not fit to remain in jail either.

His lawyer argued the lack of psychiatric facilities available left his client with only two choices: “to refuse him bail, and for him to sit in custody for two years till trial to determine his mental state, or to release him to the community under mental health treatment conditions.”

Cabin crew tried to isolate Mr Arif from other passengers until police arrived. Picture: Muhammad Zubair

“He is now aware of the fact that he has a mental health condition and wants to start dealing with that condition,” he said.

Justice Hamill chose to delay his decision until more evidence was provided by the defence about the proposed treatment plan and bail conditions.

“At the moment I need something clearer in order to do what should be done which is to have this man out of jail and in treatment.

“I really think he is in the wrong place but equally there needs to be something clearer as to the road ahead.

“I’m sorry I couldn't make a decision I just need more information,” he said.

The court had previously been told in September Mr Arif was suffering from “serious” mental health issues but the prosecution opposed bail on the grounds he was a risk of endangering the community and committing further offences.

He was not released on bail as the magistrate held safety concerns.

Muhammad Ali Arif was seen in the video asking passengers if they were “slaves to Allah”. Picture: YouTube

The plane landed back in Sydney and was isolated at the end of a runway while the other 200 passengers were moved to another part of the plane.

It sat on the tarmac for several hours before police stormed the aircraft and placed Mr Arif in handcuffs.

The court was told that even when AFP officers stormed the plane, Mr Arif continued to resist arrest and banged his head against a door.

Mr Arif remains in custody on remand.

Justice Hamill adjourned the case and he will reappear before the Supreme Court via AVL next week.