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Carlton man accused of being IS propagandist supplied by fugitive Queensland doctor, court told

Mohamed Musse Bakit allegedly sent nearly 10,000 extremist files via WhatsApp; radicalised doctor Omer Elamin named as source

By LineZotpaper
Published
Updated
Read Time2 min
Sources3 outlets
A 65-year-old Carlton man charged as a key propagandist for Islamic State was supplied with extremist material by a radicalised Queensland doctor who fled to Syria in 2016, the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court heard on Thursday. Mohamed Musse Bakit is accused of sending thousands of violent propaganda files to other extremists, some in Queensland, during a five-year period.

The details emerged during Bakit's bail application, with the court told that fugitive Dr Omer Elamin, a medical doctor from Queensland, provided Bakit with a cache of extremist material on a yellow USB drive. The two men met at the Kuraby mosque in Queensland, according to what Bakit allegedly told authorities.

Counter-terrorism police charged Bakit last week after a years-long surveillance operation. The charges relate to his alleged role in sending nearly 10,000 files of violent extremist material and Islamic State propaganda into a WhatsApp group chat between November 2015 and July 2020.

The investigation began after Australian Border Force officers searched Bakit's luggage before a flight to Egypt in November 2020. A tip-off led the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) to launch a covert investigation when Bakit returned to Australia six months later.

Elamin is described as a key figure who created the WhatsApp group that Bakit allegedly used to distribute material. Other members of the group are not being treated as suspects and have not been charged with being part of a terrorist organisation, the court was told.

Bakit's lawyer, Michael McGrath, questioned the prosecution's case, saying no evidence had been provided regarding the size of the group chat. "It could've been three [members] or 300 [members]," McGrath said.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • This case highlights the ongoing threat of online radicalisation and the role of domestic facilitators in spreading Islamic State propaganda within Australia.
  • The involvement of a medical doctor who fled to Syria underscores the varied backgrounds of individuals drawn to extremist causes and the challenges of tracking fugitives overseas.
  • A bail decision in such a serious national security case will test the balance between the presumption of innocence and community protection.

Background

Mohamed Bakit is alleged to have acted as a key propagandist for Islamic State, distributing violent extremist material via encrypted messaging. The investigation was triggered by a border force search, reflecting the importance of border screening in counter-terrorism work. Dr Omer Elamin remains a fugitive, having left Australia in 2016 to join IS fighters in Syria. The case is being prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and is under the jurisdiction of the Melbourne Magistrates' Court.

Key Perspectives

The Prosecution: Alleges that Bakit was an influential member of Islamic State's propaganda network, using a WhatsApp group to disseminate thousands of violent files over nearly five years. The source of the material, Elamin, is a radicalised doctor who joined the terrorist organisation. The Defence: Lawyer Michael McGrath has challenged the evidence, arguing that the prosecution has not disclosed the size of the group chat and that there is no proof Bakit's actions constituted membership of a terrorist organisation. Counter-terrorism Authorities: The Victorian JCTT has spent years investigating Bakit, relying on a tip-off from Border Force. They are likely to argue that the distribution of extremist material itself is a serious threat, regardless of the group's size.

What to Watch

  • The outcome of Bakit's bail application in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court.
  • Whether authorities provide further evidence linking Bakit directly to Islamic State command structure.
  • Any developments in the ongoing investigation into Dr Omer Elamin, who remains overseas.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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