Terrorism charge dropped against University of NSW PhD student
A Sri Lankan man working at a Sydney university has had a terrorism-related charge withdrawn by prosecutors and will now seek his legal costs and compensation.
Mohamed Kamer Nilar Nizamdeen, 25, was arrested in his office high above the university campus in August and charged with making a document to prepare for a terrorist act that allegedly included high-profile targets such as former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
He was released on bail on September 28 after spending four weeks behind bars.
The business systems analyst, a PhD student and contractor at the University of NSW, was not present in Sydney's Central Local Court on Friday when prosecutors withdrew the charge.
His lawyer, Moustafa Kheir, said Mr Nizamdeen would apply for his legal costs and would take action in the NSW Supreme Court.
"We will be seeking justice for him in the NSW Supreme Court.
"It's a terrible experience, as a young man who has done everything right in life, he has gone through [Goulburn's] supermax jail in unforgivable circumstances."
Mr Nizamdeen was arrested by counter-terrorism officers at the university in August after a tip-off from a colleague.
Police said the university worker had found a notebook that allegedly named several locations and individuals as "potential targets".
"They are symbolic locations within Sydney," NSW Police's Detective acting Superintendent Mick Sheehy told reporters at the time.
Australian Federal Police Detective Superintendent Michael McTiernan told reporters the charges were "serious and significant, and should not be underestimated".
At the successful bail application, prosecutor Christina Choi said there was no "conclusive" proof that the writing in the notebook was Mr Nizamdeen's.
"The prosecution has become aware that an expert handwriting examiner found an inconclusive result on the relevant entries contained in the notebook," the prosecutor told the Central Local Court.
Mr Nizamdeen was in Australia on a student visa, which expired in September.
His supporters and family rallied in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo in September carrying posters saying he had been framed.
"Kamer is innocent," one placard read.
Mr Nizamdeen is the nephew of Sri Lanka's Sports and Local Government Minister Faiszer Musthapha.
He is also the grandson of Jehan Kamer Cassim, the former chairman of Sri Lanka's Bank of Ceylon.
Mr Nizamdeen's costs application was set down for hearing on November 23 in Central Local Court.
AAP, Fairfax Media
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