Faiszer says his nephew is innocent
The family of the Sri Lankan student in New South Wales accused of planning to assassinate senior Australian politicians say the alleged Islamic State affiliate is “just like any other boy”.
Mohamed Nizamdeen, 25, was studying and working at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and was arrested after a colleague found a notebook allegedly containing details of plans to kill Malcolm Turnbull and his former deputy Julie Bishop.
Mr Nizamdeen’s uncle Faiszer Musthapha, the Sri Lankan Sports and Local Government Minister, who spoke exclusively to Hack, said he believes his nephew is innocent.
“We love him – when anyone has done something wrong they should deal with them – but as a family we believe he’s innocent,” Mr Musthapha told Hack.
“As a family we believe he hasn’t done anything wrong, we’re very confident of that but until the judicial system makes a finding we’ll have to wait and see.
“I don’t want to pre-judge things… all that we can say is that we have love, affection, and praise for him.”
The alleged list of targets also included the former speaker Bronwyn Bishop, the Sydney Opera House, major train stations and police stations across the Harbour City.
The student’s uncle said Mr Nizamdeen had not spoken to any family members since he was arrested, charged and refused bail last week
“I think the Australian Government has a process with regards to at what stage [the family] would get access,” Mr Musthapha said.
“We respect the judicial system, I know at the appropriate stage he will have access but the family’s praying he will get access [to them] as soon as possible.
“If the Australian law does not permit any form of communication for a particular period of time, we have to respect that.”
Police have said Mr Nizamdeen appeared to be an Islamic State Affiliate despite not charging him with being a member of a terrorist organisation.
“I don’t think he was researching anything of that sort, if you look at how he conducted himself when he last came to Sri Lanka, he was a fun-loving, sociable, loveable, caring person,” Mr Musthapha said.
“It’s a difficult time for the family… but I know any judicial system has to deal with this among a global phobia of terrorism, so the Australian Government would also be concerned if there’s any suspicion of any form.
“But I believe he’ll be proved innocent.”
Police allege Mr Nizamdeen, who does not have any criminal history in Australia, was operating by himself, but do not believe he was capable of carrying out a terror attack.
If convicted, Mr Nizamdeen could face up to 15 years in prison.
His uncle said despite his position in the Sri Lankan Government he would not be appealing to his Australian counterparts in regards to his nephew’s case.
“I may be a government minister but this is a personal matter and this needs zero governmental interference,” Mr Musthapha said.
“Just because I’m a minister of the Government, it doesn’t mean the Sri Lankan Government should interfere and it would be wrong if they did so.”
Mr Nizamdeen’s LinkedIn page says he’s been working as a Business Systems Analyst at UNSW since 2016, where he helped develop several projects aimed at stopping identity theft.
The commerce graduate was one of the faces of the university’s Hero Program and he was in Australia on a student visa which was due to expire at the end of this month.
“He’s just like any other boy, he plays, he dances, he sings, he parties – he’s not different to any other kid in Australia or Sri Lanka,” Mr Musthapha said.
“Let’s just wait and see, I’m very confident – as a family we’re going through a very difficult time because we believe he’s innocent…. we are very confident that with the right representation he’ll be able to state his case that he is innocent.
“Everybody in the family is shattered and broken but the fact that this happened in Australia, we know that you have a good judicial system and justice will prevail.”
(Source: ABC News)
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I agree with family sentiments.
The idiot cops in Australia have zero thinking capability (like the rest of the white population).
This guy is an IT guy; just imagine, he writing so-called terrorist plans in a Notebook!
Maybe he was building a diary to register his experience in Australia.
The idiot cops also took over digital equipment from his flat; that comprises a laptop, mobile phone and XBox.
This is a clear case of Academic Jealousy; Nizam was doing so well as a model student that someone in his surrounding did not like his face.
Hey Sleiman,
The guy allegedly did have a note book with incriminating notes. So what are the cops supposed to do? Just because the guy looks innocent and well behaved so far let him go with a pat on the back. All radicalized terrorists were not born terrorists. They are radicalized at some stage.
So don’t go calling those officers who did their job idiots. Let the law take its course and if he is not guilty then he will be released. Not like Sri Lanka where you can frame people if you don’t like them. .
Come on Stanley Fernando, This guy is doing a PhD about bombing and assassinate key figures. Auz Police officers know their job better than SL counterparts. If this happened in SL, powerful ministers connected the victim will give a call and that is it.
Amarakoon,
Corruption in Oz is rampant.
I am keenly following the interference of the ‘Nazi’ Immigration Minister in Immigration matters.
I Totally agree with you Amarakoon. In this day and age you can not get complacent when it comes to National security with so many maniac groups around the world. Thank the powers above for giving us a president like MR who saved us from those barbaric LTTE idiots.
I disagree with Amarakoon and Stanley.
Had MR provided statesman-like leadership and had the Sinhala Buddhist population appreciated aspirations of Tamil speaking Citizens, the Country would not have to sell larges swathes of land including Hambantotota Harbour, Mattala Airport, Port City, Palali Airport, Kankesanthurai Harbour, Oil Tanks in Trinco and the Trinco harbour to the lecherous Chinks and Indians and others. The war and its ending lined the pockets of MR clan (eg MIG deals). Following that, MR clan went on an asset creation spree to further line their pockets and build castles all over the place including Mt Lavinia and California.
Today, SL is an example quoted by many Countries all over the World on how not to get entrapped in the Chinks’ One Belt One Road initiative. Shame on Sinhala Buddhist leadership.
Hi Sundaraligam,
The subject was about a Muslim man who was found with incriminating documents.
You guys must always make it a Sinhala and Tamil issue no matter what the subject is. You guys are very clever in playing victims of this country and that is why the whole world thinks that the poor Tamils are being crucified by the Sinhalese. The European and western suckers don’t realize that there are plenty of Tamils living in peace all over Sri Lanka owning businesses, holding lucrative positions but there are a very few Sinhalese living in The north let alone own properties.
I am sure you would love it if Sri Lanka was in debt to the Tamil Nadu so you can have your own state in Sri Lanka some day. Keep on dreaming.
Dear Ms. 3logasundaree Suntharalingam, I was thinking whether to reply your mail or not. Please be focused. We are discussing about a Muslim PhD student related to a SL minister cought for suspected Terror charges. You come from nowhere out of the blue and start attacking MR and Sinhala Budhists. You even go to the extension linking to Chinese deals. If we start confronting with Tamils and call them Christian amd/or Hindu Tamils, you call us racists. I don’t know what I can call you? Be focused. Don’t spray your bullets everywhere. Find another tree to bark.