Australian jailed under new anti-terror laws for plotting with al -Qeada

"Roche could be free in three years"

"Convicted terrorist Jack Roche could be free in three years after being sentenced today for plotting with al-Qaeda to blow up the Israeli embassy in Canberra.

Roche, 50, was sentenced in Perth District Court to nine years in jail, with a non-parole period of four-and-a-half years, backdated to the time of his arrest in November 2002.

Having spent the past 18 months incarcerated awaiting trial, Roche could be eligible for release in May 2007.

Prosecutors had sought a sentence approaching the maximum 25 years.

Roche last Friday became the first person to be convicted under Australia's new anti-terror laws when he pleaded guilty midway through his trial on a charge of conspiring to damage the embassy with explosives, and as a consequence harm diplomatic staff."
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"The court was told Roche met Osama bin Laden before undergoing explosives training in Afghanistan, and was then directed to gather information on Australian terror targets, including the Israeli embassy and Jewish businessman Joe Gutnick."

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http://smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/01/1086058847284.html