Ahmed Elomar walks free from Goulburn prison with no one there to meet him
The brother of a notorious Islamic State terrorist has been freed from Goulburn’s Supermax prison by the Supreme Court.
The State Government and the NSW prison boss are still convinced Ahmed Elomar is a threat but could not convince a judge that he had become more radical in prison, and had tried to impose Sharia law behind bars.
The convicted police basher walked free from Goulburn jail on Thursday but, with no family to greet him, he had nowhere to go.
Clutching what appeared to be a copy of the Quran, Elomar walked in circles until his ride finally appeared.
His lawyer, Evan James, said Elomar was looking forward to being released, being re-integrated back into the community free from any negative influences.
That was a move the state government tried desperately to prevent.
NSW Corrections Minister David Elliot said he believed Elomar would have been better served staying in jail.
Elomar’s brother, Islamic State terrorist Mohammed Elomar, died fighting in Syria last year.
For 33-year-old Ahmed, liberty did not come without a fight.
Once a well known boxer in western Sydney, he came to notoriety for his role in the violent Hyde Park riots of 2012.
He was charged after striking a police officer with a wooden pole and sentenced to at least two-and-a-half years in jail.
He was granted parole in May with the board concluding he could be influenced to jail by those with radical beliefs.
But last month Mr Elliott launched an urgent appeal to keep him behind bars.
“People like Elomar who beat cops and are convicted for it should serve time in jail,” Mr Elliott said.
Counsel for the government argued Elomar was part of a group of inmates who administered Sharia law, spoke of beheading someone and viewed his terrorist brother as a martyr.
But today Justice Geoffrey Bellew rejected the government’s argument, dismissed the appeal and ordered the minister to pay Elomar’s court costs.
The judgment has angered many in the community, including Mr Elliott.
