"They're all kept in solitary confinement, they're kept in Guantanamo Bay style conditions and they're very oppressive," he said.
Kept in Guantanamo Bay style conditions
AUSTRALIA: The lawyer representing nine men facing terrorism charges says he must wait an unacceptably long time for police to provide a brief of evidence.
The men will appear in Sydney's Central Local Court today where they will apply for bail.
Eight of the men were among 17 people arrested on Tuesday in coordinated counter-terrorism raids in Sydney and Melbourne which police allege foiled a large scale terrorist attack.
Another 25-year-old Victorian man was arrested yesterday in Sydney by NSW counter-terrorism officers carrying a Victorian warrant after stopping a car in the city's west.
Lawyer Adam Houda, who is representing all nine men, said his clients would appear in court via video link from prisons at Goulburn and Lithgow.
Mr Houda said he faced a two-month wait for a brief of evidence.
"All we have is the allegations, a summary, a fact sheet from the prosecution which really doesn't tell us that much," he said.
"They're a bit vague on detail.
"The prosecution cannot tell us when this terrorist act was to occur or where, by whom, or anything like that.
"Their investigation went for 18 months, they tell us, and on the first day of court we were informed that they require up to 10 weeks to serve us with a brief of evidence, and that's far from satisfactory."
Eight of the men are charged with plotting a terrorism act, while the Victorian man arrested yesterday is charged with being a member of a terrorist organisation.
Victorian police are expected to apply for his extradition to Melbourne.
Mr Houda said his clients were being kept in solitary confinement.
"They're all kept in solitary confinement, they're kept in Guantanamo Bay style conditions and they're very oppressive," he said.
"For 23 hours a day they don't see the sun."
The men will appear in Sydney's Central Local Court today where they will apply for bail.
Eight of the men were among 17 people arrested on Tuesday in coordinated counter-terrorism raids in Sydney and Melbourne which police allege foiled a large scale terrorist attack.
Another 25-year-old Victorian man was arrested yesterday in Sydney by NSW counter-terrorism officers carrying a Victorian warrant after stopping a car in the city's west.
Lawyer Adam Houda, who is representing all nine men, said his clients would appear in court via video link from prisons at Goulburn and Lithgow.
Mr Houda said he faced a two-month wait for a brief of evidence.
"All we have is the allegations, a summary, a fact sheet from the prosecution which really doesn't tell us that much," he said.
"They're a bit vague on detail.
"The prosecution cannot tell us when this terrorist act was to occur or where, by whom, or anything like that.
"Their investigation went for 18 months, they tell us, and on the first day of court we were informed that they require up to 10 weeks to serve us with a brief of evidence, and that's far from satisfactory."
Eight of the men are charged with plotting a terrorism act, while the Victorian man arrested yesterday is charged with being a member of a terrorist organisation.
Victorian police are expected to apply for his extradition to Melbourne.
Mr Houda said his clients were being kept in solitary confinement.
"They're all kept in solitary confinement, they're kept in Guantanamo Bay style conditions and they're very oppressive," he said.
"For 23 hours a day they don't see the sun."
Comments
Hide the following 2 comments
We are not amused
11.11.2005 13:45
Regina
Reality Check
12.11.2005 23:55
The image hardly portrays Guantanamo style conditions.
Steven