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NSW terror suspect to make bail bid

Sydney woman Alo-Bridget Namoa will seek bail over terrorism-related charges after avoiding a long jail term for refusing to co-operate with authorities.

Alo-Bridget Namoa has been denied bail over terrorism charges.
Alo-Bridget Namoa has been denied bail over terrorism charges. Source: Facebook

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Source: AAP


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A Sydney terror suspect hopes to be released from custody on bail after avoiding a long jail sentence for refusing to co-operate with the NSW Crime Commission.

Alo-Bridget Namoa faced a two-year maximum jail term for failing to answer 31 questions relating to a suspected terror plot at a crime commission examination in February.

The 19-year-old was given an eight-month overall sentence, with a four-month non-parole period, in Sydney's Central Local Court on Thursday after Magistrate Beverley Schurr found her offences weren't in "the top range of seriousness".

Namoa has been behind bars since February 23 when she was arrested on separate charges of possessing a hunting knife and instructions for making a bomb detonator - both allegedly in connection with assisting her husband Sameh Bayda to commit a terrorist act.

Her lawyer Sophie Toomey said the teenager will "absolutely" fight those allegations, and will now be able to apply for bail next week as a result of Thursday's outcome.

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"She was very, very happy with that sentence," Ms Toomey told reporters outside court.

"She has a massive fight ahead of her but this is one step towards the right outcome."

Namoa, who is of Tongan heritage, appeared in court by video link from prison and wore a headscarf covering her hair and neck.

She was silent during the hearing except to correct the magistrate's pronunciation of Bayda and to ask her lawyer "So what did I get?" at the end.

Namoa and 19-year-old Bayda were married in an Islamic ceremony last December.

A month later Bayda was arrested and charged with collecting terrorism-related documents including instructions for carrying out a knife attack and for making an improvised explosive device.

Namoa appeared before the crime commission on February 5 and charged the same day with failing to answer questions.

According to court documents she was asked about whether she and Bayda were planning a terror attack and whether he was contemplating death, after the couple allegedly discussed in text messages an impending separation and Namoa becoming a widow.

She was also asked about an alleged text message to Bayda saying she wanted to "do an Islamic Bonnie and Clyde on the kaffir".

On Thursday Magistrate Beverley Schurr stressed Namoa was being sentenced for non-compliance and not terrorism-related charges.

Ms Schurr said the teenager's offences of failing to answer questions required custody but weren't in the most serious category of their type.

Namoa is expected to apply for bail in the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday.


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