Aust terror accused jailed in Lebanon
An Australian who had his passport cancelled by ASIO about terrorism worries has been convicted in a Lebanese court following allegedly travelling to Pakistan to coach with an extremist group.
The Australian states it understands Wiam Chaouk, 23, had his Australian passport cancelled following a request from ASIO, which was worried about his alleged links to extremists.
Chaouk's lawyer, Noufal Abboud, mentioned his customer had been convicted of a passport offence.
Mr Abboud claimed ASIO's action, after Chaouk arrived in Lebanon, prompted his client's require for a phony Moroccan passport.
He then left Lebanon utilizing a smuggler, but at some phase en route he necessary a passport to enter Pakistan, and it was there and then the smuggler provided him with the false passport, Mr Abboud told the newspaper.
Chaouk, no relation to slain Melbourne crime boss Macchour Chaouk, was charged with four offences, including membership of a terrorist group, passport fraud, weapons offences and offences towards the stability of state.
He was convicted by Lebanon's Everlasting Army Court and sentenced with two co-conspirators to a year's jail. He is owing for launch in several months.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) verified the conviction, but stated Lebanese courts did not right away specify which fees a defendant had been convicted of.
The embassy in Beirut is waiting around for the court's written judgment, which will supply even more particulars about the conviction, a DFAT spokeswoman stated.
Chaouk's lawyer denied his client supposed to prepare with a terror group and stated his pay a visit to to Pakistan stemmed from a want to are living in a society were ethical and non secular values mattered .
One particular of his co-defendants, Bilal Sabouneh, informed the court the team planned finally to go to Afghanistan to combat coalition forces - a claim Chaouk denied.
Mr Abboud confirmed to Alexander Ovechkin jerseys The Australian on Sunday night time cheap nhl jerseys his client had chosen to are living in Lebanon more than Australia, citing constant surveillance by Australian authorities.