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‘Tinnie terror’ plot leader jailed for seven years

The Melbourne ringleader of a plot to sail to the Philippines and encourage others to overthrow the government has been jailed.

The Melbourne ringleader of a plot to sail to the Philippines and encourage others to overthrow the government has been jailed. Photo: YouTube

The Melbourne ringleader of a ‘tinnie terror’ plot to sail from Queensland to help overthrow the Philippines government will spend up to seven years behind bars.

Islamic State sympathiser Robert ‘Musa’ Cerantonio and five other men in 2016 plotted to sail a seven-metre fishing boat off the Queensland coast, with plans to encourage others to overthrow the government of the southern Philippines and install Islamic Sharia Law.

Cerantonio pleaded guilty to engaging in conduct in preparation for hostile activities.

Supreme Court Justice Michael Croucher on Friday ordered him to serve at least five years and three months in prison before being eligible for release on parole.

He has already spent almost three years in custody.

Justice Croucher said Cerantonio’s role sharing his “putrid ideas” was deserving of a greater punishment than the other men who were subordinates and influenced by him.

His co-accused – Murat Kaya, Kadir Kaya, Paul Dacre, Antonio Granata and Shayden Thorne – have each already been jailed for periods up to four years.

He said Cerantonio was obviously intelligent.

“He intended to use his considerable gifts for evil, not for good,” Justice Croucher said.

Justice Croucher wasn’t satisfied Cerantonio had renounced his extremist beliefs since his arrest in May 2016.

The court has previously been told the 34-year-old was raised Catholic but became an Islamic “wunderkind” online and across TV and radio.

His lawyer Jarrod Williams said he did not fit the typical role of an extremist, and he enjoyed music by AC/DC, Cold Chisel, Johnny Cash, Paul Simon and Rammstein.

“This is a man who doesn’t always fit the profile of an Islamic extremist,” the lawyer said.

-AAP

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