Convicted terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika will be released from Barwon Prison today, after the Victorian Supreme Court ruled his risk of reoffending is low enough.
The 63-year-old will walk free after 18 years behind bars under more than 30 strict conditions, after a push to keep him in jail due to community safety risk was abandoned.
The Algerian native once planned to run a training camp for terrorists at Ocean Grove, and in 2005 plotted to bomb the MCG on Grand Final day.
Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth ruled he will be subject to strict supervision and a curfew for one year.
He will have to wear an ankle monitoring bracelet and police will be given extensive powers to monitor his electronic communications and he cannot leave Victoria without approval.
He also cannot contact certain people, including people in prison, convicted terrorists and those charged with such offences on a list of people prescribed by the court.
Benbrika will also continue to receive psychological treatment but is allowed to reject unreasonable psychiatric treatment if the therapies are unduly invasive, such as shock therapy or medication with adverse side effects.
He cannot miss more than three sessions in a row.
Justice Hollingworth agreed the “relative risk is still unacceptable at this time” due to the serious nature of his offending.
But she was satisfied “the combined effect of the conditions … is reasonably necessary and reasonably appropriate and adapted for the purpose of protecting the community from the unacceptable risks that Mr Benbrika presents.”
