The family of a student who was accused of planning to assassinate senior Australian politicians insist he is innocent.
Mohamed Nizamdeen, 25, who was studying and working at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), allegedly planned to kill former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his deputy Julie Bishop, according to police.
A notebook detailing the alleged plan was found by his university colleague and was reported to police.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Mr Mizamdeen has been working as a Business Systems Analyst at UNSW since 2016.
After the arrest on Thursday, his uncle Faiszer Musthapha, who is Sri Lankan Sports and Local Government Minister, said his nephew was innocent.
He was arrested and charged for the planning of a terrorist offence last Thursday.
'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.'
According to his LinkedIn profile, Mr Mizamdeen has been working as a Business Systems Analyst at UNSW since 2016.
'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.
When he was arrested, NSW Police allegedly found documents 'containing plans to facilitate terrorism attacks' and a notebook that named a number of locations and individuals as 'potential targets'.
His alleged plans involved former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (left) and former deputy leader Julie Bishop (right).
'From the documentation, we believe he would affiliate with ISIS,' Detecting Superintendent Mick Sheehy said last week.
Mr Nizamdeen has no criminal history in Australia, according to police.
The Sri Lankan national was on a student visa and in the process of applying for another one when he was arrested.
Last week, Mr Nizamdeen was refused bail and his case was adjourned. He is due to appear at Central Local Court on October 24.
'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,' Mr. Musthapha said.
Faiszer Musthapha: '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: Daily Mail
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