The producer of a proposed reality TV show called Fantasy Island appeared in court Thursday, accused of threatening terrorist attacks against Australian targets in the name of Osama bin Laden.
Charles Gant, 42, allegedly spoke of impending attacks in telephone calls to the Australian High
Com-mission in Singapore and media companies days after the September 9 bombing of Australia’s embassy in Jakarta, the court heard.
Gant was arrested Wednesday at his home in Queensland state by federal police counter-terrorism agents, police said.
The Egyptian-born promoter was the creator and proposed star of a reality television dating show, Fantasy Island. It was not clear whether the show has yet been filmed.
Crown prosecutor Anthony Gett said Gant used his mobile phone to make threatening calls to the Australian mission in Singapore and several media organisations.
In one call Gant allegedly identified himself as Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and said Australian offices in Singapore and Malaysia would be bombed.
"The bomb that happened in Jakarta is going to happen in Malaysia and Singapore," he said, referring to a September 9 suicide bombing in the Indonesian capital that killed nine people.
"I called to warn you of more attacks on Australian consulates in Malaysia and Singapore," he was quoted as saying.
In another call, Gant allegedly told a media group: "You Westerners know what you’ve done and you will pay for your sins.
"The attack in Jakarta is just the first, more will follow in Singapore and Malaysia."
"Listen to me you are all Australian pigs and you will die," he allegedly told a telephone receptionist at Fairfax Newspapers in another call.
The charges against Gant carry a maximum 12-month prison term.
Gant’s lawyer said the charges were based on circumstantial evidence and would be vigorously defended. The suspect was denied bail and remanded in custody pending another hearing on October 8.
Outside court Gant’s elderly mother, Marie Dubois, pleaded her son’s innocence. "He’s a good boy, he’s never done anything wrong, he’s not a terrorist," she said.
(http://www.island.lk/2004/09/24/news8.html)
