World News
NSW parole board denies release for Sydney man despite judge warning of potential miscarriage of justice
The state's parole authority rejected Mohommed Farhat's application, concluding his vandalism reflected antisemitic extremist ideology despite contrary findings from a supreme court judge.
The short version
- The New South Wales parole authority has denied parole a second time to 22-year-old Mohommed Farhat, who was convicted of property damage for vandalizing vehicles in Woollahra in November 2024.
- The decision comes after Supreme Court Justice Desmond Fagan stated the case appeared to be a serious miscarriage of justice, finding Farhat's actions were directed at a foreign state rather than antisemitic, and that his risk of committing a terrorism offense was insignificant.
- Corrective Services Commissioner Gary McMahon acknowledged his intervention to halt Farhat's initial parole was rare and made without consulting specialist counter-terrorism police who had concluded Farhat was not ideologically motivated.
- Farhat is scheduled to complete his full sentence in custody without parole in October.
Key facts
- Mohommed Farhat pleaded guilty to 15 property damage offenses involving vehicle vandalism in Woollahra in November 2024.[The Guardian]
- The NSW parole authority rejected Farhat's parole, determining that his actions demonstrated adherence to an antisemitic extremist ideology.[The Guardian]
- Supreme Court Justice Desmond Fagan ruled there was an insignificant risk Farhat would commit a serious terrorism offense and characterized his actions as a curse against a foreign state rather than antisemitism.[The Guardian]
- Counter-terrorism police determined three weeks after Farhat's arrest that he was not ideologically motivated.[The Guardian]
- Corrective Services Commissioner Gary McMahon intervened in December to revoke Farhat's initial parole order without consulting specialist police.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- It remains uncertain whether the state will successfully appeal Justice Fagan's rejection of an extended supervision order for Farhat upon his expected release in October.[The Guardian]