Case study - evidence presented at Lodhi trial
This section summaries the evidence that was presented to the NSW Supreme Court, and outlines the reasons why this evidence was crucial to the sentencing that was handed to Faheem Khalid Lodhi on 23 August 2006. This page should be read in conjunction with the full case study.
This information has been extracted from the NSW Supreme Court sentencing document Regina v Lodhi [2006] NSWSC 691.
Evidence he was motivated by violent jihad
Urdu document
This document was described in court as "a terrorism manual for the manufacture of homemade poisons, explosives, detonators and incendiary devices" (Regina v Lodhi 2006, p. 8). The instructions listed could easily be followed and the explosives had the potential to achieve significant damage to property and substantial loss of life. This document is written in the Urdu language. It was found at Lodhi's workplace.
Jihadi CD
A CD was found in Lodhi's home which threw considerable light on his intentions. The CD contained material that glorified violent Jihad. The CD justifies suicide bombings and celebrated the virtues of those who had given their lives to murder in the name of extremist Islam.
Chechnyan video cassette
This video cassette found in Lodhi's home glorified suicide bombers and others who had fought and died in the fight between Chechnya and Russia. Although this was regarded as an internal conflict concerning the Russian federal forces recapturing Chechnya, the war attracted Jihadist foreign fighters.
Evidence he was planning an attack
Mobile phone in a false name known as the "Sam Praveen" telephone service
Lodhi set up a mobile phone service in the name of "Sam Praveen". This mobile phone service set up under this false name was used by Lodhi to facilitate his contact with Willie Brigitte.
Contact with Brigitte
Willie Brigitte, is a French citizen who has trained at the Lashkar-e-Taiba paramilitary training camp in Pakistan. Lashkar-e-Taiba has been prescribed as a terrorist organisation by both the Australian and Pakistani Governments.
Brigitte and Lodhi were put in contact with each other by a man named "Sajid" whom Lodhi had met in Pakistan. Brigitte made two telephone calls to the "Sam Praveen" mobile phone which was in Lodhi's possession. Arrangements were made for Lodhi to collect Brigitte from Sydney Airport, and then they spent a day together in Sydney. During Brigitte's time in Australia, Lodhi and Brigitte remained in contact. Brigitte made a number of phone calls to Lodhi from a mobile listed under the false name of "John Huck" to the "Sam Praveen" telephone service.
Electricity grid maps
Lodhi obtained two maps of the Australian electricity supply system. He accessed these maps by using a fake name, fake business name and a fictitious address.
Inquiry into chemical prices
Lodhi exchanged faxes with an employee of Deltrex Chemicals using a false name and fictitious address. Lodhi told the chemical company that he was planning use the chemicals to start up a detergent company. A list of chemical prices was sent to Lodhi, including for chemicals referred to in the "Urdu document".
Read the full case study for more information on the trial.