Self-proclaimed Islamic cleric Mohammad Junaid Thorne arrives at the Downing Centre court in Sydney, Tuesday, June 9, 2015. Thorne is facing charges after boarding a domestic flight under a fake name. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
The charges stem from Thorne and two other men boarding a domestic flight from Perth to Sydney via Brisbane on tickets booked through Flight Centre last year under false names.
The Perth-born renderer and his co-accused, 19-year-old Mostafa Shiddiquzzaman, who have since had their passports cancelled, refused to stand for the magistrate on Tuesday.
Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court heard Thorne, 26, told police he undertook the offence to avoid law enforcement.
Tickets for Thorne, Shiddiquzzaman and another man, Omer Issak, were booked last December on a flight from Perth to Sydney.
The court has previously heard when Thorne called to confirm the fights, he learned they had been cancelled, so he rebooked to Sydney via Brisbane.
Facts tendered to the court state the booking was linked to Thorne's Frequent Flyer card.
His lawyer Paul Bodisco said on the "path of least resistance", Thorne took a shortcut in order to avoid having to pay for a new ticket.
"He understands that short cuts can have major consequences," he said. "My client is now an ambassador for stricter compliance of these laws."
Thorne, whose online postings supporting the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris and slain teen terror suspect Numan Haider have sparked controversy, understood it was important that the government knew the whereabouts of it citizens, Mr Bodisco said.
Thorne, who moved to Saudi Arabia as a child with his family before he was deported in 2013, wanted a "new start" in Sydney and was remorseful, Mr Bodisco said.
His co-accused, 19-year-old Shiddiquzzaman had the intention of travelling interstate for a holiday and to meet people, the court heard.
The pair will be sentenced next Monday.
Issak, 22, was sentenced in Perth last month and given a 12-month community-based order.
Share
